Season of Deep Anxiety… Defectors from the Militia and Resilience in the Face of Public Anger

Report – Sudan Events

As reports continue to emerge about fighters and field commanders defecting from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia and choosing to break ranks, government authorities are facing significant pressure from the media and local communities. Many believe that those returning are criminals who violated the sanctity of Sudanese lives—humiliating, abusing, and killing civilians—and that opening the door wide for their return amounts to a disregard for the blood and dignity of the people.

Others, however, argue that laying down arms by these individuals may encourage more fighters to do the same and abandon the conflict. They view these defections as a step toward dismantling the militia from within, noting that such departures have negatively affected fighters’ morale, created confusion, and reinforced the belief among some field leaders that the battle is indeed nearing its end.

Following the initial reports of defections, media platforms affiliated with the militia began promoting claims of clashes in Omdurman between Qubba forces and joint forces. These platforms circulated a video showing armed men moving through the city in militia uniforms, allegedly belonging to “Qubba,” alongside reports of militia presence in Omdurman. There were also claims suggesting that the return of these fighters is a double-edged sword.

However, Major General (ret.) Salah Mohamed Khalid dismissed these reports as misleading, saying they are intended to address the militia’s psychological setbacks following the defection of its field commanders. At the same time, he noted, such narratives are part of the militia’s habitual tactics of intimidation and spreading fear within local communities through rumors.

As the war enters its fourth year, people have become increasingly aware of the militia’s media strategies, which rely heavily on misinformation and attempts to influence communities through fabricated claims—such as alleged clashes between recently surrendered forces and joint units. These reports, he stressed, are false, and their intent is clear. The platforms spreading such rumors are well known and, amid their current fragmentation, are no longer capable of shaping public opinion or exerting meaningful influence.

He added that concealing real clashes between Qubba and joint forces would be impossible unless they occurred “inside a desk drawer,” unseen by anyone in Omdurman—calling such claims absurd and blatantly false.

Khalid further explained that there is strategic planning and coordinated work taking place behind the scenes. These defections and surrenders are not spontaneous but rather the result of long-term intelligence efforts that have enabled the army to access precise information about the militia’s operations and movements, and to conduct contacts and negotiations with some of its members. This, he said, is part of a broader effort to dismantle the militia’s structure.

“These steps are difficult for leadership to fully explain at this stage due to their complexity,” he noted, “but strategically, they contribute to the overarching objective of eliminating and dismantling the militia—if that is indeed the solution acceptable to the Sudanese people.”

He also pointed out that developments in the Middle East have had repercussions on the United Arab Emirates, which in turn have affected the militia. The RSF is now facing significant challenges in securing salaries and logistical support. The disruption of supply routes from Libya has further weakened its capabilities and morale, pushing its leadership toward more complex and potentially destabilizing options that could even trigger internal backlash.

Similarly, Dr. Osama Hanafi, a professor of political science at Sudan University, stated that recent leaks indicate the defections are not limited to military personnel. Some political figures who aligned themselves with the militia at the outset of the war have submitted requests to return through intermediaries—some of them foreign—seeking clarification of their legal status and the settlement of their cases, including the dismissal of charges against them.

He added that the issue of these politicians places considerable pressure on the government, as their previous provocative statements against Sudanese citizens remain fresh in public memory, making their return highly contentious. “Announcing their return would likely be shocking,” he said, “and could lead to a political crisis, as most of them are no longer acceptable to the Sudanese public.”

Hanafi concluded that the return of militia defectors may have encouraged some politicians and media figures who supported the militia from the beginning of the war to consider coming back. However, allowing their return without accountability—and permitting them to resume political activity under current conditions—carries significant and unpredictable risks, as no one can confidently anticipate the reaction of the Sudanese street.