RSF-appointed governor resigns, defects to army as battles rage across Sudan

The Rapid Support Forces-appointed governor of Sudan's Kordofan region has resigned and left the group, becoming the latest in a string of defections hampering the paramilitary force as it continues to battle the Sudanese army

Hamad Mohammad Hamad Khalifa announced his resignation from the RSF in a statement televised by Saudi-owned Al Arabiya on Wednesday, citing "ongoing suffering" in areas controlled by the group.

"I, Hamad Mohammad Hamed Khalifa, announce my resignation as governor of the Kordofan region within the structures of the so-called Tasis government, which, regrettably, has become merely a political façade for the practices of the Rapid Support Forces," he said.

"Sudanese people today have no choice but to unite against all attempts to legitimise parallel forces or rogue militias that have squandered an entire generation's lifetime in the service of individual interests," he added.

Alongside being the governor of RSF-held Kordofan, which is split into North, South and West Kordofan, Khalifa was also a member of the presidential council for the RSF's rival government.

The RSF formed a rival government in April 2025, two years after fighting broke out in the capital, Khartoum, launching the country into a vicious civil war that is now in its fourth year.

Khalifa also called for the return of the Sudanese government to the remainder of RSF-held Kordofan and Darfur, which mostly came under the control of the RSF following the capture of El-Fasher.

The capture saw large-scale atrocities and human rights violations perpetrated by the RSF.

On the humanitarian conditions in RSF-held territory, Khalifa stated that there was a "complete inability to provide even the most basic humanitarian needs for the people of Kordofan and Darfur", by the rival government.

He added that the RSF was continuing "a policy of destroying cities and killing civilians without conscience or moral restraint".

Defections come amid continued military pressure on RSF

Khalifa's defection comes as the army says it is pressing ahead with offensives on all fronts.

Other RSF defectors include Al-Nour Ahmed Adam, also known as al-Gubba, an RSF commander who led five units in north Darfur that defected to the army in April.

In late July, the army took control of a major highway linking El-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan, which had been under a partial siege, with Omdurman, opposite the capital Khartoum.

The army has continued pressing gains, in what conflict monitor ACLED has said marks the start of the war's third phase.

ACLED's Sudan researcher Ali Mahmoud Ali, and risk methodology lead Nohad Eltayeb said the army is  "seeking to build on its gains in Kordofan, and advance in the RSF strongholds, while the RSF attempts to relieve pressure on its western fronts through offensives in Blue Nile and drone strikes on Khartoum, and River Nile".

On Wednesday, the RSF launched drones targeting the capital Khartoum, as well as Omdurman, Atbara, and El Obeid, attacks which continued into Thursday.

Major RSF attacks were also reported in North Kordofan and the town of Kurmuk bordering Ethiopia, which had been recaptured by the army in July.

The army accused Ethiopia of aiding the RSF in the attack on Kurmuk. It denied the claims.

Ali and Eltayeb said that with the escalating fighting, both sides were likely to continue air and drone strikes, particularly in north Kordofan.

"Coupled with a steady trend of RSF fighters defecting to the SAF [Sudanese army], these trends point to a significant disruption of the RSF's supply lines and strike capacity," they said.

"It is therefore unlikely that the RSF can withstand offensives on three parallel fronts. The SAF advances, fragmentation of the RSF, and the shift to aerial warfare by both sides will continue to impact civilians nationwide," the two added.