Sudan: What RSF Commander’s defection means as war enters fourth year
As the war in Sudan grinds into its fourth year, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have secured what appears to be a pivotal political and military victory. The defection of Major General Al-Nour Ahmed Adam—famously known as “Al-Qubba”—from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) marks one of the most high-profile cracks in the paramilitary group’s foundation […]
A member of the Danish Refugee Council and Jasmar Human Security Organization uses a metal probe as he searches for land mines in Al-Mugran Park in Khartoum on April 19, 2026. Khartoum’s city centre, once home to bustling markets, towering businesses and wealthy districts, remains a ghost town, a mass grave and a minefield. Of the nearly four million people — around half Khartoum’s pre-war population — who fled during the conflict, more than 1.8 million have returned over the past year. Yet fewer than 80,000 people have come back to central Khartoum, according to the United Nations. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP) / The erroneous mention[s] appearing in the metadata of this photo by Khaled DESOUKI has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: [Danish Refugee Council] instead of [Dutch Migration Council]. Please immediately remove the erroneous mention[s] from all your online services and delete it (them) from your servers. If you have been authorized by AFP to distribute it (them) to third parties, please ensure that the same actions are carried out by them. Failure to promptly comply with these instructions will entail liability on your part for any continued or post notification usage. Therefore we thank you very much for all your attention and prompt action. We are sorry for the inconvenience this notification may cause and remain at your disposal for any further information you may require.
As the war in Sudan grinds into its fourth year, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have secured what appears to be a pivotal political and military victory.
The defection of Major General Al-Nour Ahmed Adam—famously known as “Al-Qubba”—from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) marks one of the most high-profile cracks in the paramilitary group’s foundation since the conflict erupted in April 2023.
The formal reception of Al-Qubba by Army Chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan in Sudan’s Northern State was more than a military greeting; it was a carefully choreographed message to the world.
Al-Burhan, who also chairs the Sudanese Sovereignty Council, used the moment to publicly announce that the “doors are open” for those willing to abandon the rebellion and join a path of national reconstruction.
Coming directly from the head of the military, this invitation offers the Army a massive moral advantage at a time when both sides remain locked in a brutal stalemate for territorial control.
The defection
According to reports from the Associated Press and Africanews, Al-Qubba’s departure was not a solitary exit. He crossed into Army territory earlier this month from the RSF-controlled Darfur region, bringing with him dozens of fighters and a significant cache of military equipment.
Insiders suggest the defection was fuelled by internal rifts. Rumours have swirled that Al-Qubba was passed over for the appointment of military governor of North Darfur after the RSF captured El Fasher—the Army’s last major stronghold in that region.
For the SAF, this isn’t just about the loss of one officer; it is evidence of a growing “ego crisis” and eroding cohesion within the RSF’s leadership.
International media have been quick to highlight the gravity of the move. Africanews called it a “major blow,” while Arab News noted that the exit exposed deep “cracks” in a group that often presents a unified front.
The timing is particularly poignant. With the death toll exceeding 59,000 according to ACLED—though true figures are likely much higher—the SAF is aggressively pushing a narrative of stability. By contrast, they paint the RSF as a fragmenting force increasingly reliant on external support and foreign mercenaries.
This narrative was bolstered on April 17, when the US imposed sanctions on a network accused of recruiting former Colombian soldiers to fight for the RSF.
While the sanctions and the defection are separate events, together they create a “perfect storm” of diplomatic and military pressure on the RSF.
While The National described the move as having “symbolic importance,” in a conflict defined by shifting loyalties and tribal structures, symbolism often is strategy. For General al-Burhan, the optics of a high-ranking RSF figure joining his side is a propaganda goldmine.
It allows the Army to blend its battlefield messaging with a “statesman-like” discourse. By framing the defection as an act of national recovery, the SAF is signalling to wavering field officers and local communities that the Army remains the only stable, state-centred institution left in Sudan.
The broad coverage by outlets like The New Arab and Sudan Tribune—the latter noting that Al-Qubba’s exit involved a relatively large and well-equipped convoy—suggests this was no fleeting incident. It was a landmark moment in the war’s trajectory.
Ultimately, the SAF has seized something more valuable than a few dozen fighters: they have seized the momentum. As the war enters a new, even more uncertain phase, the Army has successfully shown that the RSF is not just vulnerable to bullets, but to internal collapse.
Whether Al-Qubba’s exit triggers a domino effect of further defections remains to be seen, but for now, the Army is celebrating a strategic victory in the war of narratives.