As the United Nations reported that more than 1,000 civilians were killed by drone strikes in Sudan in the first half of 2026, a new group from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) announced its defection and joining of the Sudanese army on Wednesday.
The defecting group is led by Major General Musa Ali Ahmed, known as “Musa Khamsin,” who arrived in the city of Ad-Dabba in the Northern State with 318 fighters in approximately 50 armored vehicles, marking the latest defection within the forces commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo “Hemedti.”
This comes amidst escalating fighting in North Kordofan and Blue Nile states and the continued drone attacks on cities and civilian infrastructure.
The group arrived in Ad-Dabba with all its military equipment before being escorted to areas bordering the capital, Khartoum. During the reception, Musa Khamsin stated that the decision to defect stemmed from what he described as the “lack of institutional work” within the RSF, emphasizing that his group had chosen to rejoin the armed forces and prepare to fight alongside them in defense of Sudan’s unity and stability.
The commander of the Sudanese Border Guard, Colonel Mohamed Saleh Younis, welcomed the force that joined the army, stating that the doors of the armed forces are open to those wishing to return. He called on members of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) not to engage in fighting against the army.
The defection of the force from North Kordofan comes at a time when the region has become a major front in the war, as the army attempts to expand its control over the roads linking the center of the country to its west and to cut off the supply lines relied upon by the RSF in the Kordofan states and the Darfur region.
Musa Khamsin's move follows a series of defections by field and political commanders within the RSF since the defection of Abu Aqla Kikel in October 2024.
Kikel, one of the most prominent RSF commanders in Gezira State, announced his joining the army along with a group of his forces, marking the first defection of a commander of this rank since the outbreak of war between the army and the RSF in April 2023.
Kikel's defection gained particular significance due to his location in Gezira State, large parts of which had been under the control of the RSF. After joining the army, the man and his forces participated in operations that later led to the army regaining control of most of the state.
The scenario repeated itself in April 2026 with the defection of Brigadier General Al-Nur Ahmed Adam, known as "Al-Nur Al-Qubba," from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and his joining the army with groups of his troops, vehicles, and military equipment.
Al-Qubba, a well-known commander in the RSF, had participated in military operations in North Darfur. His disagreements with the RSF leadership coincided with the restructuring of the military command in North Darfur after the fall of El Fasher in October 2025, and the appointment of "Jadu Ibn Shouk" to a leadership position previously held by Al-Qubba.
The disagreements were also linked to developments in the Mustariha area, a stronghold of the Mahamid tribe, and the attempted drone strike against its leader, Musa Hilal, in February 2026. Al-Qubba refused to participate in operations against areas connected to his tribal territory before leaving RSF positions and joining the army.
In statements last week to Al-Qubba, he predicted that new convoys of “support” would join the army, and called on young people in areas under the influence of “support” not to respond to calls to participate in fighting against the armed forces.
After Kikel, Al-Nour, Al-Qubba, and Al-Safina… the marches killed a thousand civilians in 6 months
The defections didn't stop at Kikel and Al-Qubba. In May, field commander Ali Rizqallah, known as "Al-Safna," announced his defection from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Al-Safna had previously worked with the army and armed movements before joining the RSF after the outbreak of war.
Following his defection, he stated that internal disputes within the force had reached dangerous levels, and he spoke of purges and actions taken against some commanders.
Similarly, Bishara Al-Hawira, who was the military operations officer in the Bara axis of North Kordofan, announced his departure from the RSF and his arrival in Khartoum. Meanwhile, Faris Al-Nour, a former advisor to the RSF commander and a member of the presidential council of the "Ta'sis" alliance, announced his departure from the alliance last June.
Last July, a group of approximately 280 fighters announced their arrival in army-controlled areas in about 30 combat vehicles, after leaving RSF-controlled areas in the Darfur region.
Militarily, these recent defections coincide with an escalation of military operations on the North Kordofan front. The army recently recaptured areas and towns along the export route, including Bara and Umm Qurfa, in operations aimed at securing the road linking Omdurman, west of the capital Khartoum, with El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan state, which connects central and western Sudan. This has reduced the supply lines used by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) towards the Kordofan states.
On August 12, drone attacks targeted areas in Omdurman, Bahri, Atbara, Ad-Damir, and El Obeid, while the armed forces announced they had repelled several aerial attacks. Subsequently, the RSF intensified its drone attacks on army-held areas, in what was seen as an attempt to disperse its forces after their advance in North Kordofan.
Meanwhile, operations continued in the Blue Nile region, particularly around the Qaysan locality near the Ethiopian border. The region witnessed attacks this month involving the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their ally, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N).
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimated that approximately 9,000 people, or 1,787 families, were displaced between August 12 and 17 from the town of Qaysan and several surrounding villages due to the deteriorating security situation.
The displacement affected the villages of Rahmat Allah, Agharu, Khartoum Balil, Al-Hamiroura, Qoz Al-Sham, Amoura, Marmouz Al-Jabal, Yara, Deim Saad, Fazoghli, Abu Rando, and Bakuri. The displaced families sought refuge in other areas within the Qaysan locality, as well as in the Al-Rusayris and Wad Al-Mahi localities.Meanwhile, the government denied RSF accusations that the army had destroyed the Tammat Bridge in the Qaysan locality, stating that the bridge remained intact. The government accused the RSF of fabricating the story of its destruction to cover up their battlefield losses, spread fear among the population, and prevent displaced people from returning to their homes.
In North Darfur, the commander of the 6th Infantry Division, Omar Mansour Hassan, stated that the armed forces are engaged in battles to recapture El Fasher from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), anticipating further fighting around the North Darfur capital in the coming phase.
These statements coincided with remarks by the former commander of the 6th Division, Major General Mohamed Ahmed Al-Khader, asserting the armed forces' capability to retake all territory currently held by the RSF.
Alongside ground battles, drone attacks are escalating. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that drone strikes accounted for approximately 80% of conflict-related civilian deaths in the first months of 2026, targeting markets, health facilities, civilian sites, and infrastructure.
The UN stated that over 1,000 civilians were killed by drone strikes between January and May of this year, and that this type of attack has become one of the most significant threats to civilians and humanitarian workers.
Tags:
africa
