Tribal leader Musa Hilal reaches army-held areas after RSF attack

February 25, 2026 (KHARTOUM) – The leader of Sudan’s Revolutionary Awakening Council, Musa Hilal, has reached areas controlled by the national army outside the Darfur region following a paramilitary attack on his base, the council said.

Musa Hilal, a powerful leader of the Mahameed tribe, arrived safely and in good health in the army-held zones, council spokesperson Ahmed Mohamed Abkar said in a statement on Wednesday.

The move marks a significant shift in the conflict in North Darfur, occurring days after the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) stormed Hilal’s headquarters in Mistariha. The RSF, which has been at war with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) since April 2023, shared footage on Monday showing its fighters in the area after setting fire to several buildings.

Mistariha had been under siege from multiple directions by RSF combat vehicles and infantry. The ground offensive followed a drone strike on Sunday that hit Hilal’s residence during a Ramadan breakfast, killing several council members and wounding one of Hilal’s sons, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Hilal, a former government ally who commanded militias during the Darfur conflict in the early 2000s, formally declared his support for the regular army last year.

Tensions between Hilal and the RSF reached a breaking point earlier this year after the paramilitary group attempted to install a rival leadership for the Mahameed tribe.

The attack on Hilal’s stronghold triggered defections from the RSF, with many fighters returning to Mistariha to protect their traditional leader.