(https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/comments/feed/)  (RSS 2.0) (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/feed/)  (Atom) (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/feed/atom/)  (../wp-content/themes/memouk/images/favicon.png) (../wp-content/themes/memouk/images/favicon.png)  (../../fonts.googleapis.com/css2@family=Inter%253Awght@400%3B500%3B600%3B700&family=Playfair+Display%253Awght@400%3B500%3B600%3B700&display=swap.css) (../../fonts.googleapis.com/css@family=Material+Icons%257CMaterial+Icons+Outlined%257CMaterial+Icons+Two+Tone%257CMaterial+Icons+Round%257CMaterial+Icons+Sharp&display=swap.css) Sudan’s RSF special operations commander defects to army – Middle East Monitor  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/)  (https://fonts.googleapis.com/)  (https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/)  (https://cdn.openshareweb.com/)  (https://cdn.shareaholic.net/)  (https://www.shareaholic.net/)  (https://analytics.shareaholic.com/)  (https://recs.shareaholic.com/)  (https://partner.shareaholic.com/)  (https://i0.wp.com/)  (https://c0.wp.com/)  (Middle East Monitor » Feed) (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/feed/)  (Middle East Monitor » Comments Feed) (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/comments/feed/)  (Middle East Monitor » Sudan’s RSF special operations commander defects to army Comments Feed) (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20261009-sudans-rsf-special-operations-commander-defects-to-army/feed/)  (oEmbed (JSON)) (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-json/oembed/1.0/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.middleeastmonitor.com%2F20261009-sudans-rsf-special-operations-commander-defects-to-army%2F)  (oEmbed (XML)) (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-json/oembed/1.0/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.middleeastmonitor.com%2F20261009-sudans-rsf-special-operations-commander-defects-to-army%2F&format=xml)  (https://cdn.shareaholic.net/assets/pub/shareaholic.js)              (../wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/related-posts/related-posts.css@ver=20240116.css)  (../wp-content/plugins/casualty-widget/widget-style.css@ver=7.1.3.css)  (../wp-content/plugins/contact-form-7/includes/css/styles.css@ver=6.1.6.css)  (../../fonts.googleapis.com/css@subset=latin,latin-ext,cyrillic,cyrillic-ext&family=Open+Sans%253A400,600,700,800%257COpen Sans rel=)  (../../fonts.googleapis.com/css@subset=latin,latin-ext,cyrillic,cyrillic-ext&family=Open+Sans%253A400%257COpen Sans rel=)  (../wp-content/themes/memouk/style.css@ver=7.1.3.css)  (../../cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/bootstrap/5.2.3/css/bootstrap.min.css@ver=7.1.3.css)  (../../cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/bootstrap/5.2.3/css/bootstrap-grid.min.css@ver=7.1.3.css)  (../../cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/font-awesome/6.7.2/css/all.min.css@ver=7.1.3.css)  (../wp-content/themes/memouk/css/slick.css@ver=7.1.3.css)  (../wp-content/themes/memouk/css/slick-theme.css@ver=7.1.3.css)  (../wp-content/themes/memouk/css/style23.css@ver=asw.css)  (../wp-content/themes/memouk/css/style-mega-menu.css@ver=7.1.3.css)  (../wp-content/themes/memouk/css/responsive6.css@ver=7.1.3.css)  (../wp-content/themes/memouk/css/quick-share.css@ver=0.1.css)  (../wp-content/plugins/ajax-search-lite/css/style.basic.css@ver=4.14.4.css)  (../wp-content/plugins/ajax-search-lite/css/style-simple-red.css@ver=4.14.4.css)  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-json/)  (JSON) (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/870498)  (RSD) (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/xmlrpc.php?rsd)   (index.html)  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=870498)  (https://fonts.gstatic.com)  (../../fonts.googleapis.com/css@family=Open+Sans&display=swap.css)  (../../fonts.googleapis.com/css@family=Open+Sans&display=swap.css)  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20261009-sudans-rsf-special-operations-commander-defects-to-army/?amp)                 (../../i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/favicon.png@fit=32,32&ssl=1)  (../../i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/favicon.png@fit=64,64&ssl=1)  (../../i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/favicon.png@fit=64,64&ssl=1)                (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com) (Middle East Monitor)   clear   (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/news-2/) News (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/news/asia-americas/) Asia & Americas  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/news/africa-2/) Africa  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/news/europe-russia/) Europe & Russia  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/news/middle-east/) Middle East    expand_more  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/opinion-pieces/) Opinion (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/opinion-pieces/articles-2/) Articles  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/opinion-pieces/blogs-2/) Blog  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/article/asia-americas/) Asia & Americas  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/article/africa-2/) Africa  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/article/europe-russia/) Europe & Russia  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/article/middle-east/) Middle East    expand_more  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/reviews/) Reviews (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/reviews/review-books/) Books  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/reviews/review-films-documentaries/) Films & Documentaries  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/reviews/review-events-articles/) Events & Articles    expand_more  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/interviews/) Features (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/interviews/) Interviews  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/profiles/) Profiles  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/opinion-pieces/on-this-day/) On this day  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/photo-stories/palestine-this-week/) Palestine This Week  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/memo-in-conversation-with/) MEMO in Conversation  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/photo-stories/dispatch-from-gaza/) Dispatch from Gaza    expand_more  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/publications/) Publications (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/publications/reports/) Reports  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/publications/briefing-papers/) Briefing Papers  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/publications/fact-sheets/) Fact Sheets  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/publications/documents/) Documents    expand_more  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/photo-stories/) Multimedia (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/photo-stories/) Videos & Photo Stories  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/photo-stories/explained/) Explained  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/photo-stories/memo-monitoring/) MEMO Monitoring  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/photo-stories/youve-been-served/) You've Been Served  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/photo-stories/destinations-discover-the-middle-east/) Discover the Middle East  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/conferences/) MEMO Conferences: Speeches  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/infographics/) Infographics  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/twitter-trends/) Twitter Trends  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/podcasts/) Podcasts    expand_more  (index.html#) More (https://www.palestinebookawards.com/) Palestine Book Awards     (https://www.memopublishers.com/) MEMO Publishers     (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/about/) About Us  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/contact/) Contact Us    expand_more   (https://middleeastmonitor.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=0f75dc11487e03cbba46b3dd8&id=294940df6c) Free Subscription     (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com) (Middle East Monitor)    Creating new perspectives since 2009          English Edition expand_more  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/) English Edition  (http://www.monitordooriente.com/) Portuguese Edition     (https://middleeastmonitor.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=0f75dc11487e03cbba46b3dd8&id=294940df6c) Free Subscription   (https://www.facebook.com/middleeastmonitor)    (https://twitter.com/middleeastmnt)    (https://www.instagram.com/middleeastmonitor/)    (https://www.threads.com/@middleeastmonitor)    (https://www.tiktok.com/@middleeastmonitor)    (https://www.youtube.com/@MEMonitor)    (https://middleeastmonitor.bsky.social)       search      (Search here..) ()  ()  (Start search)                          (0) (1) (0)   Generic selectors (exact)    Exact matches only   (title)    Search in title   (content)    Search in content   (excerpt)     Post Type Selectors (post)   (page)                 (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com) (Middle East Monitor)           (https://middleeastmonitor.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=0f75dc11487e03cbba46b3dd8&id=294940df6c) Free Subscription   (https://www.facebook.com/middleeastmonitor)    (https://twitter.com/middleeastmnt)    (https://www.instagram.com/middleeastmonitor/)    (https://www.threads.com/@middleeastmonitor)    (https://www.tiktok.com/@middleeastmonitor)    (https://www.youtube.com/@MEMonitor)    (https://middleeastmonitor.bsky.social)       search      (Search here..) ()  ()  (Start search)                    (0) (1) (0)   Generic selectors (exact)    Exact matches only   (title)    Search in title   (content)    Search in content   (excerpt)     Post Type Selectors (post)   (page)       Loading...                (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/region/africa-2/) Africa ,  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/news-2/) News ,  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/region/africa-2/sudan/) Sudan ,    Sudan’s RSF special operations commander defects to army      (index.html#disqus_thread) 0 Comments   October 9, 2026 at 10:18 am       (A truck carrying gunmen affiliated with Sudan's army drives on a street in the eastern city of Gedaref on November 11, 2024. [AFP via Getty Images])   A truck carrying gunmen affiliated with Sudan’s army drives on a street in the eastern city of Gedaref on November 11, 2024. [AFP via Getty Images]             Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed Azraq al-Fanjari, commander of the special missions and special operations group within Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), announced on Thursday that he had defected and joined the Sudanese Armed Forces.  In a video message, al-Fanjari called for an end to the war and urged Sudanese people to return to the “embrace of the homeland”, declaring his allegiance to the army.  He apologised to the Sudanese people for the consequences of what he described as an “absurd war” and condemned violations against civilians.  Al-Fanjari left RSF positions accompanied by about 300 officers and soldiers in around 30 combat vehicles, according to Sudanese media. The group included armed personnel and military vehicles.  In the video, he said his decision followed a reassessment of his position on the war. He urged his fellow RSF members to abandon the fighting and side with what he described as the national interest.  READ: (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20261005-sudan-doctors-network-condemns-rsf-attack-on-wfp-aid-trucks-killing-one-driver/) Sudan Doctors Network condemns RSF attack on WFP aid trucks, killing one driver   Last week, the Sudanese government announced that a force of more than 100 fighters, including 18 officers, from the Gathering of Sudan Liberation Forces movement, led by al-Taher Hajar and allied with the RSF, had joined the Sudanese army in North Darfur.  According to a government statement, a breakaway force from Hajar’s movement and the RSF arrived at the Tina front in North Darfur state under the command of Mohamedein Ismail Abu Zara, bringing its full military equipment and several combat vehicles.  The government said the force had declared its allegiance to the armed forces and would take part in military operations alongside the army from the western front.  Abu Zara said the decision to join the army came after his fighters recognised what he described as the RSF’s threat to Sudan’s unity and to the security and stability of the Darfur region. The statement added that the force would immediately take part in military operations against the RSF.  READ: (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20261006-sudan-joint-force-says-it-has-taken-control-of-bir-saliba-in-west-darfur/) Sudan Joint Force says it has taken control of Bir Saliba in West Darfur    (index.html#disqus_thread) 0 Comments  (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) (Creative Commons License)   Unless otherwise stated in the article above, this work by (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com) Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License . If the image(s) bear our credit, this license also applies to them. (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) What does that mean? For other permissions, please (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/contact) contact us .  Spotted an error on this page? Let us know    (22342)  (6.1.6)  (en_US)  (wpcf7-f22342-p870498-o1)  (870498)  ()  ()   (Email Address (if you require a response)) ()    (What is the error?)    This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google (https://policies.google.com/privacy) Privacy Policy and (https://policies.google.com/terms) Terms of Service apply.  (Send)   Δ  (132)             (index.html#disqus_thread) 0 Comments     Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.   Latest news (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/news-2/) See all  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20261009-israeli-army-arrests-16-palestinians-including-ibrahimi-mosque-director-in-occupied-west-bank/) ()    (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20261009-israeli-army-arrests-16-palestinians-including-ibrahimi-mosque-director-in-occupied-west-bank/) Israeli army arrests 16 Palestinians including Ibrahimi Mosque director in occupied West Bank   (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20261009-israeli-army-arrests-16-palestinians-including-ibrahimi-mosque-director-in-occupied-west-bank/) Muhammad Hussein      (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20261009-saudi-arabia-says-3-killed-in-attacks-on-riyadhs-king-khalid-airport/) ()    (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20261009-saudi-arabia-says-3-killed-in-attacks-on-riyadhs-king-khalid-airport/) Saudi Arabia says 3 killed in attacks on Riyadh’s King Khalid airport   (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20261009-saudi-arabia-says-3-killed-in-attacks-on-riyadhs-king-khalid-airport/) Muhammad Hussein      (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20261009-us-senator-says-israeli-forces-violated-international-humanitarian-law-in-gaza/) ()    (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20261009-us-senator-says-israeli-forces-violated-international-humanitarian-law-in-gaza/) US senator says Israeli forces violated international humanitarian law in Gaza   (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20261009-us-senator-says-israeli-forces-violated-international-humanitarian-law-in-gaza/) Muhammad Hussein      (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20261009-podcast-by-jasim-al-azzawi-with-raymond-mcgovern-trump-threatens-to-annihilate-iran-empty-bluster-or-imminent-war/) ()    (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20261009-podcast-by-jasim-al-azzawi-with-raymond-mcgovern-trump-threatens-to-annihilate-iran-empty-bluster-or-imminent-war/) Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Raymond McGovern: Trump Threatens to Annihilate Iran: Empty Bluster or Imminent War?   (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20261009-podcast-by-jasim-al-azzawi-with-raymond-mcgovern-trump-threatens-to-annihilate-iran-empty-bluster-or-imminent-war/) Muhammad Hussein      (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20261009-algeria-uae-tensions-extend-to-competition-for-influence-in-the-sahel/) ()    (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20261009-algeria-uae-tensions-extend-to-competition-for-influence-in-the-sahel/) Algeria-UAE tensions extend to competition for influence in the Sahel   (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20261009-algeria-uae-tensions-extend-to-competition-for-influence-in-the-sahel/) Muhammad Hussein      Subscribe to our newsletter () (Email Address) Sign up           (https://www.memopublishers.com/publications/islam-race-and-rebellion-in-the-americas-transatlantic-echoes-of-the-west-african-jihads/) (Islam Race and Rebellion in the Americas: Transatlantic Echoes of the West African Jihads)      (https://www.memopublishers.com/publications/engaging-the-world-the-making-of-hamas-foreign-policy) (Engaging the World: The Making of Hamas’s Foreign Policy)            Related Posts      Trending  (index.html#memoTodayTrending) Today  (index.html#memoWeeklyTrending) This week   (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/opinion-pieces/articles-2/) (Article) Article (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20261008-indonesians-must-boycott-pro-israel-singer-andrea-bocellis-concert-at-borobudur/) (Indonesians must boycott pro-Israel singer Andrea Bocelli’s concert at Borobudur) Indonesians must boycott pro-Israel singer Andrea Bocelli’s concert at Borobudur   (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/news-2/) (News) News (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20261008-iran-rejects-giving-up-uranium-enrichment-handing-over-enriched-stockpile/) (Iran rejects giving up uranium enrichment, handing over enriched stockpile) Iran rejects giving up uranium enrichment, handing over enriched stockpile   (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/news-2/) (News) News (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20261008-amnesty-international-slams-france-for-increased-military-equipment-deliveries-to-israel/) (Amnesty International slams France for increased military equipment deliveries to Israel) Amnesty International slams France for increased military equipment deliveries to Israel   (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/opinion-pieces/articles-2/) (Article) Article (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20261008-naza-and-whose-testimony-we-believe/) (Naza and whose testimony we believe) Naza and whose testimony we believe   (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/news-2/) (News) News (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20261008-senior-us-embassy-official-in-jerusalem-suppressed-diplomatic-cables-to-shield-netanyahu-government-report/) (Senior US Embassy official in Jerusalem suppressed diplomatic cables to shield Netanyahu government: Report) Senior US Embassy official in Jerusalem suppressed diplomatic cables to shield Netanyahu government: Report      (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/news-2/) (News) News (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20261005-eisenkot-attacks-netanyahu-those-who-evade-responsibility-cannot-prevent-the-next-disaster/) (Eisenkot attacks Netanyahu: Those who evade responsibility cannot prevent the next disaster) Eisenkot attacks Netanyahu: Those who evade responsibility cannot prevent the next disaster   (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/news-2/) (News) News (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20261005-netanyahu-threatens-more-assassinations-in-gaza-as-president-warns-of-internal-divisions-in-israel/) (Netanyahu threatens more assassinations in Gaza as president warns of internal divisions in Israel) Netanyahu threatens more assassinations in Gaza as president warns of internal divisions in Israel   (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/news-2/) (News) News (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20261005-82-of-gaza-buildings-damaged-in-israeli-genocide-palestinian-statistics-agency-says/) (82% of Gaza buildings damaged in Israeli genocide, Palestinian statistics agency says) 82% of Gaza buildings damaged in Israeli genocide, Palestinian statistics agency says   (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/news-2/) (News) News (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20261005-1-palestinian-killed-5-injured-in-israeli-army-occupier-attacks-in-west-bank/) (1 Palestinian killed, 5 injured in Israeli army, occupier attacks in West Bank) 1 Palestinian killed, 5 injured in Israeli army, occupier attacks in West Bank   (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/news-2/) (News) News (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20261005-israel-prepares-for-possible-military-action-against-iran-with-us-or-independently-report/) (Israel prepares for possible military action against Iran with US or independently: Report) Israel prepares for possible military action against Iran with US or independently: Report              (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com) (Middle East Monitor)      (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/region/africa-2/) Africa  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/region/asia-americas/) Asia & Americas  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/region/middle-east/) Middle East  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/region/europe-russia/) Europe  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/reviews/review-books/) Book Reviews     (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/opinion-pieces/blogs-2/) Blog  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/opinion-pieces/) Opinion  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/reviews/) Reviews  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/category/photo-stories/) Multimedia  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20240130-podcasts-middle-east-monitor-conversations/) Podcast: Middle East Monitor Conversations  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20240130-podcasts-palestine-this-week/) Podcast: Palestine This Week     (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/editorial-guidelines/) Editorial Guidelines  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/about/) About Us  (https://www.palestinebookawards.com) Palestine Book Awards  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/contact/) Contact Us  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/privacy/) Privacy Policy  (https://www.memopublishers.com/) MEMO Publishers  (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/all-stories/) All Stories Archive     Subscribe to our newsletter () (Email Address) Sign up      (https://www.facebook.com/middleeastmonitor)    (https://twitter.com/middleeastmnt)    (https://www.instagram.com/middleeastmonitor/)    (https://www.threads.com/@middleeastmonitor)    (https://www.tiktok.com/@middleeastmonitor)    (https://www.youtube.com/@MEMonitor)    (https://middleeastmonitor.bsky.social)            © Ardi Associates Ltd 2009- . All Rights Reserved | (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/editorial-availability-intellectual-property/) Legal Pages | (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/privacy/) Privacy Policy  Middle East Monitor is owned and operated by (https://www.ardi-associates.co.uk/) Ardi Associates Ltd