Kikel Surrenders to the Army… An Earthquake Hits the Militia

In a surprising turn of events, social media platforms buzzed on Sunday with a photo of Abu Aqla Kikel, commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), among Sudanese army soldiers. Questions about the authenticity of the circulated image began to spread, but confirmation soon came through videos showing Kikel surrendering to the army. The Sudanese Armed Forces later issued a statement confirming the news.

Kikel’s decision to surrender himself along with his troops and military equipment to the army was a severe blow to the militia. Media sources revealed details about Kikel’s surrender in the Al-Labitore Mountains in Al-Batana. According to journalist Azmi Abdulrazek, negotiations with Kikel had been ongoing for nearly two months, with his family playing a major role in coordination with military intelligence. “Kikel was initially supposed to announce the liberation of civilians from the RSF and open roads for the army’s advance, but the attempt faced military complications due to the presence of Guja and Jalha forces. As a result, the deal was finalized in the Al-Labitore Mountains in the Al-Batana plains,” he said. He added, “More importantly, Kikel has declared securing the eastern region of Al-Jazira from Rufaa to Tambul, along with a large force, and fighting alongside the army to liberate the entire Al-Jazira state.” He confirmed that this step is the biggest blow the militia has faced recently and will pave the way for the liberation of Khartoum.

Two sources told “Darfur24” that the RSF commander in Al-Jazira state, Abu Aqla Kikel, surrendered to the army in the Al-Labitore area in the Al-Batana plains.

In this context, the head of the Free Al-Batana Forum, Saeed Al-Sayed Amara, announced Abu Aqla Mohamed Ahmed Kikel’s defection to the army with all his military equipment. He stated that the Al-Batana region would be free of the Janjaweed’s evil within the next 72 hours. Several videos circulated to confirm Kikel’s surrender, showing the RSF commander in Al-Jazira state, Abu Aqla Kikel, among the army forces after his surrender. In the video, shouts of “Allahu Akbar” were heard from Kikel and the army members.

The Sudanese army stated that the RSF commander, Abu Aqla Kikel, sided with the truth and the nation on Sunday after leaving the rebels and deciding to fight alongside the armed forces, bringing a large group of his forces after realizing the false and deceptive claims of the Dagalo family’s terrorist militia and their allies, who are merely tools to serve international and regional criminal agendas aimed at destroying the country, its land, people, and resources.

The Armed Forces welcomed this brave step in their statement and affirmed that their doors remain open to anyone who sides with the nation and its armed forces. They reiterated the pardon from the Chairman of the Sovereignty Council and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces for any rebel who joins the nation’s side and reports to the nearest military command across Sudan.

RSF members called on their commander, Hemeti, to inform them of what is happening in Al-Jazira. They urged their comrades to “lay down their arms and withdraw from Al-Jazira state immediately.”

On Sunday, soldiers appeared alongside their leader in a video addressed to the militia commander, asking about the situation so they could decide their fate after the commander of Al-Jazira, Abu Aqla Kikel, surrendered to the army.

They revealed in their message that they had information about Abu Shotal’s intention to surrender in the Blue Nile region, as well as Guja’s in Al-Managil.

One militia member threatened, saying, “If you play games with us, we will withdraw our men from the Al-Jazira front and fight in Khartoum to the death.”

Kikel first appeared when he founded the Sudan Shield Forces in Al-Jazira state, which was met with opposition. Kikel justified the move, stating they were striving to reclaim the rights of central Sudan, which had long suffered from marginalization.

Months after the war between the army and the RSF broke out, Kikel announced his alliance with the RSF and his intention to fight alongside them.

On December 18, 2023, Kikel entered Wad Madani with the militia forces, and during his tenure as the security chief of Al-Jazira state, his period witnessed human rights violations, massacres, forced displacement, and sexual violence.