Former RSF commander hospitalized after health deteriorates in Sudanese military custody

August 10, 2026 (KHARTOUM) – A former senior commander in Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has been transferred to a military hospital in Omdurman after a severe health setback in detention, his family said on Monday.

Lieutenant General Ali Al-Naseeh Al-Qala was moved to the Military Medical Hospital late Sunday after suffering from shortness of breath and mobility issues for over a week, a family source told Sudan Tribune.

The family stated that military intelligence officials delayed responding to his repeated requests for medical care.

Al-Qala, a former Sudanese army officer who helped found the RSF and previously served as its head of operations, was arrested by military intelligence on January 25, 2025, after army forces regained control of the Al-Jaili oil refinery north of Khartoum.

This marks his third hospitalization since his arrest. He previously suffered a heart condition requiring catheterization, as well as severe anaemia attributed by his family to malnutrition in custody.

The family said Al-Qala has not faced formal charges or been brought before a court since his arrest, calling his continued detention a human rights violation and holding army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan responsible for his safety.

Sudan’s military and military intelligence have not issued a statement regarding Al-Qala’s health status or the grounds for his detention.