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Military Amnesty by Sudanese Army Encourages Successive Defections from Rapid Support Forces
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The amnesty policy adopted by the Sudanese army appears to be bearing fruit in attracting elements and leaders from the Rapid Support Forces and weakening its ranks
The Sudanese army received significant development with the announcement that a group of Rapid Support Forces advisors have defected and joined its ranks, according to Al Arabiya/Al Hadath sources.
These developments came days after the Rapid Support Forces commander in Al Jazeera state, Abu Aqila Kikal, along with a large number of his fighters, joined the Sudanese army, which initiated renewal of amnesty for anyone who surrenders themselves to the nearest military unit across the country.
The Rapid Support Forces deployed in Al Jazeera state represent between 60 to 70% of forces, mostly locals from the region, making this defection a crushing blow to the RSF controlling the state.
Al Jazeera state derives its importance from being a vital supply line for the army in the capital with food supplies and strategic commodities like wheat and corn, in addition to its role in distributing these materials to neighboring states.
Kikal holds the position of "Sudan Shield" forces commander in Al Jazeera state, the most prominent state in central Sudan, where he pledged allegiance to the Rapid Support Forces approximately four months after the war broke out in August 2023.
Confrontations between the Sudanese army and Rapid Support Forces have been raging for nearly 18 months, resulting in a massive humanitarian catastrophe and causing the displacement of more than 10 million people, while UN organizations struggle to provide humanitarian assistance to those affected.
Levant-Agencies
