Sudanese army reports first defection of senior RSF commander

Sudan's service said connected Sunday a commandant from its foe the Rapid Support Forces had defected with immoderate of his troops, the archetypal specified determination by a elder fig since the 2 sides went to warfare much than 18 months ago.

Supporters of the service posted photos online purporting to amusement Abuagla Keikal - a erstwhile service serviceman who became the RSF's top commander successful the southeastern authorities of El Gezira - aft helium had defected.

The RSF aboriginal published a connection alleging that Keikal had switched sides aft a "deal," and saying that it had inflicted losses connected the forces that defected with him successful the eastbound of El Gezira state, wherever Keikal is from.

The army, which has precocious reported gains against the RSF successful parts of the capital, said Keikal had decided to marque the determination due to the fact that of the RSF's "destructive agenda."

There was nary contiguous remark from Keikal, who was a subject quality serviceman earlier the war.

The RSF has seized power of ample parts of Sudan successful a struggle with the service that the United Nations says has caused 1 of the world's worst humanitarian crises.

The warfare has displaced much than 10 cardinal people, driven parts of the state to utmost hunger oregon famine, and drawn successful overseas powers that person fixed some sides worldly support.

It began successful April 2023 erstwhile tensions betwixt the RSF and the army, who had been jostling for presumption up of an internationally backed modulation to civilian rule, erupted into unfastened conflict.

The service and the RSF had antecedently shared powerfulness aft staging a coup successful 2021, 2 years aft seasoned autocrat Omar al-Bashir was toppled successful a fashionable uprising.