The Army’s Campaign to Hunt Down Senior Rapid Support Forces Leaders… Who’s Next After General Hussein?

Report by: Abdel-Baqi Al-Zafir

A senior military source in the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) told Al Jazeera that a Sudanese army drone killed a high-ranking Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander by targeting his vehicle on Monday. RSF leader Omar Jibril confirmed the death of Major General Abdullah Hussein, RSF commander in Al-Jazeera state.

The death of General Hussein is part of an ongoing campaign by the Sudanese army targeting prominent RSF leaders. This report provides insight into the Sudanese army’s campaign and who may be next on its list.

How Did General Hussein’s Life End?

Journalist Azmi Abdel Razek details the final hours of Major General Abdullah Hussein, commander of the RSF in Al-Jazeera state. He explains that after the army took control of Wad Madani on January 11, Hussein and his forces retreated to the Giad Industrial Area in northern Al-Jazeera.

According to Abdel Razek, a special army unit launched an attack on the town of Al-Kamleen and then withdrew to provoke RSF forces in the town. This strategy worked, as Hussein led a large force to protect his defenses in Al-Kamleen. After deploying his troops across the town, he found himself and his forces under heavy fire from the army and its allied forces. A military source confirmed to Al Jazeera Net that Hussein was killed on Monday after his location was accurately targeted by a drone strike.

Who Was Hussein – A Man Linked to Koshyb and Sought by the ICC?

Who was Major General Abdullah Hussein, who became the center of news? In a televised interview on the RSF-affiliated “Al-Haqiqa” channel before his death, Hussein described himself as a descendant of a prominent family in Darfur, known for settling disputes.

Journalist Youssef Abdel Manan traces Hussein’s life, stating that he was born in Al-Murazo, near Ad-Daif in South Darfur. Hussein belonged to the Bani Halba tribe, one of the largest Arab tribes in Darfur. He reportedly only completed primary education before engaging in tribal armed conflicts at a young age. He was a prominent leader in the “Um Bagha” group, which operated across Sudan’s borders, adopting a slogan: “No nationality, no identity card,” reflecting their transnational nature.

When war broke out in Darfur in 2003, Hussein joined the Border Guards, which were then led by Musa Hilal, who supported the army in the early stages of the conflict in Darfur.

Hussein’s name surfaced during investigations by the National Inquiry Committee, led by former minister and judge Dafalla Al-Haj Youssef. The committee recommended that several individuals, including Mohammed Abdul Rahman (known as Koshyb, who is currently on trial at the International Criminal Court in The Hague), be investigated. However, the committee’s findings were ignored, and Hussein disappeared from the public eye until the formation of the RSF, where he rose through the ranks, using his tribal connections.

Rising Through the Ranks

Hussein’s name was associated with several confrontations between the Sudanese army and RSF in Khartoum. He was heavily involved in leading RSF forces that targeted the Armored Corps and later moved to Omdurman to attack the Engineers Corps, though his attempts failed.

Later, Hussein led operations in northern Al-Jazeera state. He reportedly had disputes with RSF commander in Al-Jazeera, General Abu Aqila Kikel. After Kikel defected to the Sudanese army, Hussein took over his position, becoming one of the RSF’s most prominent field commanders until his death.

Since the RSF announced Hussein’s death, speculation about his loyalty has emerged on social media, with some claiming he was planning to defect to the army. However, Al Jazeera Net was unable to confirm these claims or reach RSF leaders for comment. Retired intelligence officer Major General Moatasem Al-Hassan told Al Jazeera Net that targeting high-ranking leaders is an effective strategy to sow distrust within RSF ranks.

Previous Targets

Since the conflict between the Sudanese army and RSF began in April 2023, the army has managed to kill several senior RSF commanders, including:

• General Ali Yaqoub, killed on June 13 near Al-Fashir, North Darfur.
• General Abdul Munim Sharia, killed on May 7 in North Kordofan.
• Abdul Rahman Al-Beishi, killed in an airstrike on July 20 in Sennar.
• Ahmed Madalel, a relative of RSF leader Hemedti, killed in January 2025.
• General Rahmatallah Mahdi Jalha, killed on January 28 in East Nile, Khartoum.
• Most recently, Major General Abdullah Hussein.

Several other field commanders have also been eliminated. They were influential in RSF operations and had significant media presence on social platforms.

The Strategy of Targeting Senior Leaders

Military experts believe that targeting top leaders weakens and exhausts the enemy. Retired General Moatasem Al-Hassan compares this strategy to Russia’s approach to the Wagner rebellion and Israel’s strategy with Hezbollah and Hamas.

Journalist Youssef Abdel Manan points out that both sides have tried to eliminate key leaders since the beginning of the conflict, with the RSF attempting to assassinate army chief General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan at army headquarters in Khartoum. Al-Hassan agrees, noting that the army targeted RSF commander Hemedti early in the conflict, with reports of him being injured by a sniper, leaving his fate uncertain.

Who’s Next?

A military source told Al Jazeera Net that Sudanese air forces almost targeted Abdul Rahim Dagalo, RSF’s second-in-command, during a recent airstrike in Mellit, North Darfur.

Military expert Ali Mirghani believes the army might not be planning to eliminate Dagalo at this stage. His absence could lead to a “lone wolf” phenomenon, with RSF fragmenting into small guerrilla groups. Retired Major General Moatasem Al-Hassan, however, emphasizes the importance of eliminating Dagalo’s family members to break RSF morale.

Journalist Youssef Abdel Manan concludes that neutralizing General Othman Hamid, known as “Operations Othman,” could be a decisive blow to the RSF, given his extensive combat experience from both the army and RSF.

As the conflict in Sudan, which began in April 2023, enters a new phase, the effectiveness of targeting top leaders will be tested. This strategy was rarely used in previous Sudanese wars but has now become a defining tactic in this ongoing conflict.

Source: Al Jazeera Net