A violent internal confrontation within Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has reportedly led to the death of a senior commander in the Darfur region, local sources have disclosed.
According to the sources, Abdullah Abu al-Qasim, who commanded the RSF’s Sha’iriya sector, was killed during clashes that broke out among RSF fighters in the Khazan area late on Sunday.
The fighting reportedly started at about 8:00 p.m. local time and was sparked by internal leadership disagreements within the paramilitary organisation, the sources said.
The confrontation led to several casualties on both sides, although the exact number of those killed or injured could not be immediately confirmed.
Abu al-Qasim, popularly known as “Dawli,” was described as a key field commander of the RSF in the area. He was also related to a prominent traditional authority, being the brother of Muhammad Abu al-Qasim, the Nazir, or tribal leader, of the Birgid tribe.
As of the time of reporting, the RSF had yet to release any official statement addressing the incident.
Sudan has remained trapped in a protracted conflict since April 2023, when hostilities erupted between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces. The fighting has since plunged much of the country, particularly Darfur, into persistent violence, displacement and instability.
What you should know
The reported killing of an RSF sector commander highlights growing internal strains within Sudan’s powerful paramilitary force amid an already devastating national conflict.
Since war broke out between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces in April 2023, Darfur has become one of the worst-hit regions, witnessing ethnic violence, mass displacement and humanitarian collapse. Internal clashes within the RSF suggest deepening leadership rifts that could further fragment armed groups on the ground.
Such divisions risk worsening insecurity for civilians, complicating peace efforts, and intensifying the already fragile situation in Sudan’s conflict-ravaged regions.
