Sudan’s Burhan receives defecting RSF Commander Qubba in Northern State

April 19, 2026 (DONGOLA) – The Chairman of the Sovereignty Council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, received dissident Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander Major General Al-Nour Ahmed Adam, known as “Al-Qubba,” in Northern State on Sunday.

The breakaway commander arrived in Dongola from the Kutum locality in North Darfur, marking one of the most significant defections from the paramilitary group since Abu Agla Keikel joined the army in October 2024.

Burhan and several senior military leaders officially welcomed Qubba and his companions, with reports from Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya TV channels indicating that Burhan gifted Al-Qubba his personal vehicle as a gesture of appreciation.

A founding member of the RSF, the splinter general played a prominent role in the conflict that erupted in April 2023. He was a key commander in the battles for El Fasher alongside Ali Yaqoub, who was killed in action, and Gedo Ibn Shouk, a relative of the RSF leader.

Military sources told Sudan Tribune that Qubba’s defection followed internal disputes after he was passed over for the military governorship of North Darfur in favour of Ibn Shouk following the fall of El Fasher in October 2025. Qubba reportedly felt marginalized and complained of discriminatory treatment toward his troops.

The general’s escape began on April 9 from the town of “Qubba” near Kutum, narrowly avoiding an RSF unit sent from El Fasher to arrest and deport him to Nyala on charges of rebellion.

Supported by loyalist elements and 46 combat vehicles, his force moved through the desert toward northern Sudan.

The Sudanese army played a critical role in the operation, deploying combat drones to provide aerial cover and strike RSF ambushes lying in wait along the desert corridor. The convoy eventually reached the desert town of Al-Khanaq before proceeding to Dongola under the protection of the SAF, the General Intelligence Service, and the Joint Force.

The Revolutionary Awakening Council (RAC), led by Musa Hilal, welcomed the defection as a “brave national stance” that prioritizes the country’s unity and sovereignty.

Hilal, the leader of the Mahameed tribe to which Qubba belongs, reportedly played a decisive role in coordinating the general’s safe exit.

Following Qubba’s departure, RSF units allegedly launched a retaliatory campaign against the Mahameed ethnic group in Kutum and surrounding areas.

Reports indicate widespread abuses, including home raids, looting, and mass arrests of individuals accused of supporting the dissident commander.