Senior RSF Commander Defects, Citing Family Control Over Finances and Promotions

Defection Announcement and Allegations

According to video footage published on Friday, senior Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander Siddiq Ander announced his defection from the Sudanese paramilitary group. In the footage, Ander accused relatives of RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as "Hemedti," of monopolizing control over the group's finances, weapon distribution, troop movements, and military promotions.

"It has become clear to us beyond any doubt that we were serving a purely family-based project controlled by Hemedti’s relatives in every aspect," Ander stated in the video. He further claimed that individuals who question the leadership face internal repercussions, including expulsion, imprisonment, or disappearance. Hemedti's brother, Abdul Rahim Hamdan Dagalo, currently serves as the deputy commander of the RSF.

Context of Recent RSF Departures

Ander’s departure follows a series of high-profile exits from the paramilitary group throughout the year. Notable departures documented in recent months include:

• Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed Azraq al-Fanjari: Announced his exit on October 8 alongside 300 officers and soldiers, and 30 military vehicles.
• Al-Tayeb al-Wahidu: Left the RSF on September 25 with 50 fighters, joining the opposing Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in Omdurman, citing internal abuses.
• Brigadier Ali Rizqallah ("Savannah"): Announced his departure from the force in May.
• Major General al-Nour Ahmed Adam ("al-Qubba"): Defected to the SAF in April following disagreements regarding military appointments.

Broader Conflict and Humanitarian Impact

Sudan's ongoing conflict began in April 2023, sparked by a power struggle between the regular military and the RSF, notably involving disputes over integrating the paramilitary group into the armed forces. The war has resulted in the displacement of approximately 13 million people and generated famine conditions in parts of the country.

In parallel with internal leadership fractures, the conflict has seen an escalation in drone attacks. On October 26, strikes impacted a market and residential zone in Nyala, an RSF-controlled city located in South Darfur. While the local rights group Emergency Lawyers reported over 100 fatalities from the strikes, alternative medical organizations recorded lower casualty numbers. The United Nations has identified drone strikes as a primary driver of civilian casualties in the ongoing war.

Verification and Practical Implications

Independent verification of battlefield dynamics and internal paramilitary disputes remains challenging due to access restrictions across conflict zones. Observers seeking to verify official claims, defection announcements, and humanitarian reports typically cross-reference statements from primary video releases, documented desertion announcements, and updates issued by monitoring organizations such as the United Nations and local legal aid groups.