A group of Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) fighters under the leadership of Mustafa Tambour has announced its defection to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Zalingei in Sudan’s Central Darfur State.
According to sources who spoke to Radio Tamazuj, the defectors are led by Colonel Ahmed Haroun, also known as “Khomeini,” and include several officers and soldiers.
Colonel Haroun stated in a press release that their decision to join the RSF was a reaction to the unilateral decisions of the SLM’s leader who supports the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and allied with Islamist factions without consulting the movement’s base and leadership.
He argued that Tambour’s stance on the conflict contradicted the principles and doctrines of the movement, which initially rebelled against the SAF and its transgressions.
“This divergence prompted us to leave the movement and join the RSF to continue with the struggle for justice and the restructuring of the SAF into a national force that represents all the people and defends the country,” Col. Haroun said.
Relatedly, Musa Abd al-Shafi, one of the elders at one of the displacement camps in Zalingei, expressed his support for the defectors and said their move was a step towards enhancing the stability of a region that has suffered from aerial bombardments, displacement, and destruction.
“The area is now witnessing stability following the RSF’s control over Zalingei,” he said.
Meanwhile, Colonel Eissa Abbakar of the RSF leadership in Central Darfur State welcomed the group’s defection and commended their alignment with the RSF’s mission under the leadership of Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.
“The group which has newly joined the RSF will be deployed to the front lines according to their wishes,” Col. Abbakar stated.
He lauded the SLM defectors for their choice and urged everyone to work towards continuing the revolution in the quest to achieve a unified Sudan free from injustices.
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