Sudanese army reports first defection of senior RSF commander

PHOTO CAPTION: Illustrative photo — A Sudanese national flag is attached to a machine gun of paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) soldiers. Photograph: Ümit Bektaş/Reuters

By Khalid Abdelaziz

(Reuters) -Sudan's army said on Sunday a commander from its foe the Rapid Support Forces had defected with some of his troops, the first such move by a senior figure since the two sides went to war more than 18 months ago.

Supporters of the army posted photos online purporting to show Abuagla Keikal - a former army officer who became the RSF's top commander in the southeastern state of El Gezira - after he had defected.

The RSF later published a statement alleging that Keikal had switched sides after a "deal", and saying that it had inflicted losses on the forces that defected with him in the east of El Gezira state, where Keikal is from.

The army, which has recently reported gains against the RSF in parts of the capital, said Keikal had decided to make the move because of the RSF's "destructive agenda".

There was no immediate comment from Keikal, who was a military intelligence officer before the war.

The RSF has seized control of large parts of Sudan in a conflict with the army that the United Nations says has caused one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.

The war has displaced more than 10 million people, driven parts of the country to extreme hunger or famine, and drawn in foreign powers that have given both sides material support.

It began in April 2023 when tensions between the RSF and the army, who had been jostling for position ahead of an internationally backed transition to civilian rule, erupted into open conflict.

The army and the RSF had previously shared power after staging a coup in 2021, two years after veteran autocrat Omar al-Bashir was toppled in a popular uprising.

(Reporting by Khalid AbdelazizWriting by Adam MakaryEditing by Christina Fincher, Andrew Heavens and Mark Heinrich)