Mass Defection in Sudan: 21 RSF Commanders and 270 Fighters Lay Down Arms to Join National Army

KHARTOUM — In a major blow to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Sudanese authorities announced that 21 commanders and 270 fighters have officially defected to join the ranks of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).

According to an official statement issued by the Al-Dabbah locality in Sudan's Northern State, the defecting personnel belonged to the RSF’s Group 55 and Group 47. The units formally surrendered alongside a substantial cache of military hardware, handing over 37 fully equipped combat vehicles before swearing allegiance to the state military.

Welcoming the defectors, Border Guard Forces commander Col. Mohammed Saleh Younis lauded the decision as a decisive step toward standing with the nation, while calling on remaining paramilitary combatants to lay down their arms and return to the state fold.

The high-profile surrender marks a growing trend of desertions and political resignations plaguing the RSF leadership amid the prolonged conflict. Observers note that these shifting loyalties could further strain the paramilitary group's operational cohesion as military authorities continue efforts to restore state sovereignty.