Storm of Controversy in Sudan After “Kikel Leaks” About Hemedti

A storm of controversy has erupted in Sudan following comments by Major General Abu Aqla Mohamed Kikel, commander of Sudan Shield Forces, in a meeting with a group of journalists. Kikel disclosed what some journalists considered confidential information regarding the leader of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), his health condition, and his role in the ongoing battles.

The statements coincided with circulating leaks about efforts to revive the peace process in the country, prompting speculation that Kikel’s revelations aimed to “whitewash” Hemedti of his forces’ crimes and present him in a new light as part of a potential political settlement.

In one of the salons in Port Sudan, the temporary administrative capital, Kikel sat with a select group of editors-in-chief and writers on Sunday evening. He responded to their questions after sharing information—some of it intended for publication, and other details he requested to remain confidential due to their sensitivity, according to a participant who spoke to Al Jazeera Net on condition of anonymity.

Hemedti’s Caution and Tears

Those present at the meeting reported that Kikel began by outlining the military operations, saying, “Soon we will reach the drone launch areas in Darfur. The operational situation is very reassuring, and victory in Kordofan and Darfur is near.”

Kikel revealed that Hemedti remained in Khartoum until February and used a jamming system that covered a 100-kilometer radius around him. He was protected by a security detail comprising 150 vehicles armed with cannons.

He disclosed that Hemedti used a communication device with a phone number registered in an Arab country and possessed a large, uniquely designed device used exclusively for secure communication. Hemedti insisted on using this device only, which—according to Kikel—he discarded once he joined the army, suspecting it might contain a tracking mechanism.

Kikel emphasized that all meetings with Hemedti during the war took place exclusively at night, under direct instructions from Hemedti himself—an indication of his extreme caution to avoid detection or targeting.

He added that Hemedti was not merely a symbolic leader but actively managed the war himself, calling Kikel up to 15 times a day. He personally monitored the supply of ammunition, weapons, vehicles, and even military uniforms.

Kikel denied rumors that Hemedti was injured in battle, stating that he was never wounded. He attributed Hemedti’s thinness to his strict fasting since the war began, which he maintained without interruption. He also revealed that Hemedti suffers from a chronic internal illness and traveled abroad for two weeks to receive treatment.

The general, who defected to the Sudanese army on October 20, 2024, noted that his last face-to-face meeting with Hemedti occurred 12 days before his defection.

Regarding RSF-related violations, Kikel stated that when such issues were discussed in Hemedti’s presence, “his tears would flow, but he would remain silent without any comment.”

Repositioning

Political analyst and writer Ibrahim Shaqlawi argued that Kikel, being a defector from a controversial military formation, speaks from a politically biased position against the RSF. This, he said, renders him a non-neutral party, possibly driven by personal or internal motives, necessitating caution when evaluating his statements.

Shaqlawi told Al Jazeera Net that portraying Hemedti as both a meticulous military commander overseeing logistics and a sentimental man moved by atrocities is contradictory and appears to be an attempt to polish his image or elicit sympathy. From both military and psychological perspectives, this narrative is unconvincing given the crimes committed against civilians.

He believes Kikel’s account leans more toward sensationalism and drama than military documentation and discipline. This, in turn, weakens its intelligence value and brings it closer to political or propaganda speech.

However, Abdel Majid Abdel Hamid, editor-in-chief of the “Masadir” website and former Minister of Information in White Nile State, who attended the meeting with Kikel, said the controversy surrounding the encounter stems from the fact that Kikel’s information about Hemedti shook long-held beliefs and a widely established image.

Abdel Hamid told Al Jazeera Net that the meeting was not arranged by any party and that Kikel’s disclosures were direct responses to the journalists’ questions. He described it as “a more-than-ordinary meeting that has been overinterpreted.”

Reviving Negotiations

Elsewhere, observers noted that Sudanese platforms and websites recently published reports of international and regional efforts to revive negotiations between the Sudanese government and the RSF. The timing of Kikel’s remarks led to speculation that he is attempting to absolve his former commander, Hemedti, of his forces’ crimes and rebrand him ahead of any peace process or potential settlement.

These platforms reported that delegations from the army and the RSF had arrived in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, to engage in new negotiations, linking this to a visit by former U.S. President Donald Trump to the Gulf states.

Sudanese users on social media attributed a statement to Amany El-Taweel, an advisor at the Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, suggesting that Sudan was heading toward de-escalation in the coming days.

However, El-Taweel clarified via her Facebook page that the statement attributed to her was inaccurate. She stated that what she actually said was that an Arab mediation effort was necessary to de-escalate the situation in Sudan, and denied having any knowledge of ongoing contacts or negotiations between the warring parties.

Meanwhile, the Rapid Support Forces issued a statement denying any secret or public negotiations with the army. The statement declared that reports of secret talks were baseless and affirmed the RSF’s intent to continue its fight against what it described as “remnants and extremists.”