Ali Rizqallah, widely known as “Al-Savanna,” a former commander who defected from the Rapid Support Forces militia, revealed details of internal disputes and deep divisions within the group’s ranks.
Speaking at a press conference in Khartoum on Saturday, Al-Savanna stated that the commander of the Rapid Support Forces, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, had previously been injured during clashes near the headquarters of the Sudanese Army General Command in Khartoum. He claimed that the real decision-making authority of the forces is now controlled by external actors, adding that Hemedti himself could face elimination if he were to defy those foreign directives.
Regarding internal purges, Al-Savanna disclosed that the prominent commander known as “Jalha” had been killed in a drone strike in the Kafouri district of Bahri, allegedly carried out on direct orders from RSF deputy commander Abdel Rahim Dagalo. He also claimed that commanders Othman Operations and Othman Fadil had been placed under house arrest in the United Arab Emirates.
On external coordination, Al-Savanna stated that former Vice President Hasabo Mohamed Abdel Rahman currently serves as the chief adviser and effective coordinator of operations and relations with the UAE. He described the administrative conditions in areas controlled by the militia as extremely centralized, saying, “Obtaining a flour ration requires direct approval from Abdel Rahim Dagalo.”
On the humanitarian front, Al-Savanna highlighted alleged abuses inside the RSF-run “Dagrees” prison, describing it as “notorious.” He claimed that it holds thousands of civilian and military detainees facing extremely dangerous conditions, in addition to reports of widespread executions inside the facility.
Al-Savanna further accused multiple international parties of supporting the Rapid Support Forces in pursuit of shared interests with the UAE. He argued that the Emirati plan had shifted from attempting to “swallow the Sudanese state” entirely to seeking the separation of the Darfur and Kordofan regions after the failure of the initial plan.
Discussing the details of his defection, he explained that he had initially moved under an official assignment order from the militia through the Fourth Division in the city of Al-Daein, then traveled to South Sudan and later to India before eventually returning to Khartoum.
He asserted that all forces under his command are now located in areas controlled by the Sudanese Armed Forces, dismissing claims circulated by RSF-affiliated platforms regarding his troops as “theater and nonsense.”
Al-Savanna concluded by affirming his intention to continue fighting, stating: “I will go to fight all the way to the Um Dafouq area.”
