Sudan’s Al-Burhan welcomes defection of RSF commander to army

Sudan’s Sovereign Council chairman, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, on Sunday welcomed the defection of a senior commander from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), al-Nour al-Qubba, and his decision to join the army.

According to a statement from the Sovereign Council, Burhan, who also leads the Sudanese army, met Major General al-Qubba, who had defected from the RSF in the Northern State.

Burhan welcomed his move to join the armed forces, stressing that the door remains open to anyone willing to lay down arms and take part in rebuilding the country.

Al-Qubba is considered one of the founders of the RSF and played a prominent role in the war that began on 15 April 2023. He was among the commanders involved in battles for the city of El Fasher, which the RSF took control of in October 2025.

Local media, including Sudan Tribune, reported that al-Qubba defected earlier this month following disputes within the RSF. The disagreements were reportedly linked to his dissatisfaction at not being appointed military commander of North Darfur after the capture of El Fasher on 26 October 2025, as well as complaints about the neglect of his forces and alleged discrimination against them.

Since April 2023, the RSF has been fighting the Sudanese army over disagreements about its integration into the military. The conflict has triggered one of the world’s worst famine crises, killed tens of thousands of people, and displaced around 13 million, according to estimates.

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