A defecting Rapid Support Forces (RSF) general said on Wednesday that the paramilitary group has recruited approximately 150 mercenaries from Colombia, some of whom were killed or wounded in the North Darfur capital of El Fasher.
– Al-Nour Ahmed Adam, known as “Al-Qubba,” was a prominent RSF commander overseeing military operations in El Fasher before the city fell to the group in October 2025. He defected earlier this month after internal disputes over his leadership and the treatment of his troops.
– Speaking at a press conference in Khartoum, Al-Qubba said the Colombian fighters were specialists in drone operations, heavy artillery, and sniping. He noted that those wounded in combat were evacuated from Sudan via Nyala.
– The former commander claimed his forces did not participate in direct military operations in Khartoum or El Fasher but focused on civilian protection. He attributed his defection to the RSF’s decision to appoint Giddo Abunshouk as the military governor of North Darfur instead of him, as well as alleged discrimination against his units.
– Al-Qubba described a coordinated withdrawal of his troops from North Darfur, involving more than three combat groups. He said the move was facilitated by coordination with armed movements, specifically Minni Minawi’s Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM), before his arrival in Dongola where he was officially received by the Sudanese army.
– During the retreat, his convoy was targeted by drone strikes that destroyed three vehicles, Al-Qubba said, adding that his men managed to down several of the attacking aircraft.
– While acknowledging that the RSF maintains significant manpower and continues to receive external logistical support, Al-Qubba claimed the paramilitary group suffers from poor training and declining morale. He suggested that many RSF members are now seeking to join the regular army.
– Addressing the whereabouts of RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, Al-Qubba stated that the commander is alive and overseeing military operations from abroad while travelling between African countries. He added that Dagalo’s brother, Abdel Rahim Dagalo, manages field operations in Sudan, travelling between Darfur and Kordofan.
– Al-Qubba also accused the RSF of operating well-funded media rooms to spread rumours and misinformation aimed at undermining state stability.
https://sudantribune.com/article/313312