Sudan paramilitary leader sentences defected general to death

April 23, 2026 (NYALA) – The commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Mohamed Hamdan “Hemetti” Dagalo, on Thursday stripped defected Major General Al-Nour Ahmed Adam, known as “Al-Qubba,” of his military rank and sentenced him to death in absentia.

The decision follows accusations of desertion and collaboration with the Sudanese army. Al-Qubba defected earlier this month following internal disputes regarding his exclusion from the military leadership of North Darfur after the RSF took control of El Fasher in October 2025.

Internal sources cited Al-Qubba’s frustration over the appointment of Gedo Ibnshook as commander in North Darfur, rather than him. He also reportedly complained of discrimination against his specific forces and a lack of logistical support.

The defecting commander reached the city of Dongola on April 19 after fleeing North Darfur. He was received by the Sudanese army and met shortly thereafter with General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of the Sovereign Council and commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

A memo issued by Omer Hamdan, head of the RSF administration department, confirmed that Hemetti ratified a field court ruling to demote Al-Nour to the rank of private and dismiss him from service effective April 22.

The RSF statement noted that Al-Nour was convicted of violating several articles of the Rapid Support Forces Act. These include desertion, abandonment of military positions, and communication with the enemy army.

He was further convicted of rebelling against the 2025 constitutional order. The death sentence was passed as a summary judgment following his arrival in government-held territory.

Al-Qubba was a founding member of the RSF and a prominent figure in the conflict that began in April 2023. He played a key role in the battles for El Fasher alongside Ali Yaqoub, who was killed in action, and Ibnshook, a relative of Hemetti.