Senior RSF Commander Defects, Accusing Leadership of Nepotism and Mismanagement

OPA WIRE, Oct 31 (OPA) — Siddiq Ander announced his departure from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in video footage released Friday, citing systemic corruption within the paramilitary group. Ander alleged that the organization is controlled exclusively by the relatives of leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, who dictate all financial, military, and personnel decisions. The commander stated that dissenters within the ranks face imprisonment, expulsion, or death, characterizing the group as a family-based project rather than a professional military force.

The defection follows a pattern of internal instability within the RSF throughout 2026. In October, Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed Azraq al-Fanjari announced his exit alongside 300 soldiers and 30 military vehicles. Other notable departures include Al-Tayeb al-Wahidu, who joined the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in September, and Brigadier Ali Rizqallah, who left the group in May. Major General al-Nour Ahmed Adam, another senior commander, defected to the SAF in April following disputes over military appointments.

Sudan’s conflict began in April 2023, stemming from a power struggle between the SAF and the RSF regarding the integration of paramilitary forces into the national military. The war has resulted in the displacement of approximately 13 million people and triggered widespread famine conditions. Both factions have increasingly relied on drone warfare, leading to significant civilian casualties in contested regions, including a recent strike in Nyala that resulted in over 100 reported deaths.

The United Nations has identified drone strikes as the primary cause of civilian fatalities in the ongoing conflict. As the RSF faces these high-level defections, the group remains under pressure from both the SAF and the logistical challenges of a protracted war. The internal fractures highlight the growing difficulty for Hemedti to maintain cohesion among his commanders as the humanitarian crisis in Sudan continues to deteriorate.