Key facts
- Sudan's army has integrated defectors from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group.
- High-level RSF commanders, including Ali Rizkallah, have switched allegiance to the army.
- Victims in Darfur are angered by the integration, fearing a lack of accountability for alleged crimes.
- The RSF has been accused of atrocities, particularly in Darfur, since the conflict began in April 2023.
- Analysts believe the army is exploiting ethnic and clan divisions within the RSF through these defections.
Sudan's army is integrating defectors from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group, a move that has sparked anger among victims who fear the defectors will evade justice for alleged war crimes. Ali Rizkallah, a prominent RSF commander known as 'al-Savannah,' was recently welcomed into the Sudanese armed forces in Khartoum, receiving a uniform and rank.
This integration is part of a series of high-level switches that are reshaping alliances and bolstering the military amid Sudan's ongoing civil war, which began in April 2023 after the RSF and army fell out. The conflict is one of the deadliest of the century, having killed hundreds of thousands and displaced millions.
Victims, however, are dismayed by the free movement and public appearances of former RSF figures. Halima Ismail, a woman from western Darfur, recounted witnessing RSF soldiers firing weapons during an attack on her village in 2024, stating she cannot forgive them for what she saw. She described instances of rape and violence inflicted by RSF fighters under Rizkallah's command.
Another RSF commander, al-Nour Guba, also defected to the military in April. In an interview, Guba denied seeking to evade justice and stated that any former RSF commanders who committed crimes should be held accountable. Rizkallah has publicly stated he would surrender if accused of wrongdoing, though he did not respond to requests for comment.
Resentment is also high in the Kordofan region, where a trader plans to file a private case against Rizkallah for alleged looting. Activists like Mohamed Salaheldin from Emergency Lawyers suggest that such individual lawsuits are unlikely to succeed and that transitional justice is necessary to address the widespread alleged crimes.
Analysts, such as Emadeddin Badi, believe the Sudanese army is strategically encouraging defections to exploit ethnic and clan divisions within the RSF. This strategy aims to replicate past successes, like the defection of Abuagla Keikal, which helped the army regain ground in El Gezira. However, Badi notes that the social repercussions of these actions may be underestimated by the armed forces.