The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have captured several towns in eastern Gezira State, Sudan, following Gen. Abuagla Keikal’s defection from the RSF to the army.
Local sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that RSF began attacking Tamboul on Sunday evening, killing at least five people and injuring many others while damaging businesses in the market.
A resident said conditions are dire as the army retreated, allowing the RSF to gain full control of the town.
The RSF also detained dozens of troops loyal to Keikal, mostly from the Butana region.
RSF spokesperson Al-Fateh Qureshi stated that after Keikal joined the army, “a large force of the enemy attempted to take control of Tamboul.”
Qureshi added that RSF responded decisively, killing over 200 enemy troops and seizing 45 fully equipped vehicles, driving them out of the town.
He reported that Keikal has been hiding with his family due to suspicious activities.
Qureshi claimed Keikal was involved in a deal orchestrated by his brother, negotiating to surrender to army commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan in return for military and intelligence support.
Ibrahim Mukheer, an advisor to the RSF leader, stated that Keikal was under investigation for revealing the location of Blue Nile Commander Abdel Rahman Al-Bashi, who was killed by army forces.
Mukheer added that Keikal surrendered to the army with several vehicles and his personal guard but did not have any significant military information.
In Rufa'a, a major city in Gezira State, the Popular Resistance Committees reported that army forces attempted to move into eastern Gezira after withdrawing from Tamboul.
They claimed that RSF attacked several towns in the region, including Al-Junayd and Al-Hila, leading to civilian casualties.
The committees condemned both the army and RSF for endangering local residents and opposed the use of civilians as human shields.
Separately, the RSF announced the downing of a military aircraft in northern Darfur, killing its six-member crew.
Qureshi stated that RSF personnel captured videos of the wreckage and the crew’s passports, revealing their identities. He noted that the aircraft had conducted numerous attacks on civilians in Sudan.
