Sudan’s Army Reports Mass Defections From Rival RSF

Hundreds of fighters, including senior commanders, have reportedly defected from Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and joined the national army, suggesting mounting pressure within the paramilitary group as the war enters its fourth year. The latest group includes 318 personnel, four commanders, and up to 50 combat vehicles, according to the Sudanese army. It follows last week’s reported defection of another 300 RSF personnel, including 21 commanders, adding to departures among military and political figures. One defector reporteedly blamed the RSF’s lack of institutional structures and said the group chose the army in the interest of Sudan’s unity. The defection grants the army manpower, equipment, and potentially valuable intelligence, while weakening the RSF’s cohesion and battlefield capacity.