RSF special tasks commander defects with 300 officers, soldiers in Sudan

A commander in Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) announced on Thursday that he had defected from the group along with 300 officers and soldiers and 30 combat vehicles.

Lt. Col. Mohammed Azraq al-Fanjari, commander of the RSF’s Special Tasks Group, announced his defection in a video statement circulated on Sudanese media.

Al-Fanjari said he decided to relinquish all of his military duties and responsibilities within the RSF “after an honest review of ourselves and deep reflection on what our country has come to as a result of this futile war.”

He said he is siding with “the sanctity of Sudanese blood and the choice of peace.”

Al-Fanjari also declared that he disassociated himself from any violations committed against civilians or their property and apologized to Sudanese families affected by death, displacement or other harm during the conflict that continues since April 2023.

He called on other RSF members to reconsider their positions and leave the group, describing the conflict as “a war without a cause and without a future.”

The commander urged his former colleagues to rally behind the Sudanese Armed Forces and avoid further bloodshed.

There was no immediate comment from the RSF on Al-Fanjari’s announcement.