Over 260 RSF-aligned fighters defect to Sudanese government movement
The Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) reported on August 27 that 265 fighters, including 15 officers, have defected from a Rapid Support Forces (RSF)-aligned splinter faction to rejoin government-allied forces. The group, led by Commander Bashir Abakar Abdelsalam, was previously part of the Suleiman Sandal faction. The defectors are being integrated into the Joint Force coalition in Darfur, marking a significant shift in local paramilitary dynamics as the Sudanese civil war persists.
Date: August 27, 2026
Location: Darfur, Sudan
Conflict: Sudanese Civil War
Category: ground battle
Severity: MEDIUM
Source: Sudan Tribune