RSF commander killed in central Sudan’s Sennar State
RSF commander Abdel Rahman Albishi speaks outside the building of Al-Dinder locality on June 5, 2024
July 20, 2024 (SENNAR) – The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Saturday announced the death of Brigadier General Abdel Rahman Al-Bishi who served as their operational leader for both Sennar State and Blue Nile Province.
A prominent figure within the RSF’s central Sudan command, Al-Bishi previously held the position of sector commander for Blue Nile before the outbreak of the civil war in April 2023.
Early in the conflict, the military’s intelligence unit in Damazin City arrested Al-Bishi. After his release, he relocated to Khartoum, where he participated in RSF operations alongside the General Command, Armoured Corps, and Jebel Aulia forces.
Originally from Bout in Blue Nile, Al-Bishi led the deployment of his troops to Al-Jazirah and Sennar states in December 2023.
The circumstances surrounding Al-Bishi’s death remain unclear. RSF sources claim an airstrike by Sudanese military warplanes west of the army-controlled Sennar City caused his demise.
Conflicting reports on social media detail Al-Bishi’s death. Some allege an airstrike targeting an RSF leadership meeting outside Sennar City on Friday evening, while others suggest he was killed on Saturday.
The Sudanese Air Force has intensified airstrikes against RSF positions in Sennar, while infantry units aim to retake control of the strategically important Jebel Moya area. In a video posted Saturday, Sudanese soldiers claimed to be within a kilometre of RSF positions in Mount Moya.
The ongoing conflict escalated in June when the RSF, led by Al-Bishi, launched a major military operation in Sennar State. Their initial objective was to seize Jebel Moya, a crucial link between Sennar, Al-Jazirah, and White Nile states.
Later in June, the RSF forces avoided the Sudanese army forces in Sennar, advancing 60 kilometres to Sinjah. This attack allowed them to capture the state capital, and seize the 17th Infantry Division’s command. The RSF subsequently expanded their control eastward, westward, and southward, securing the Al-Dinder, Al-Suki, Abu Hajar, Wad Al-Nil, Al-Dali, and Al-Mazmum regions.