Khartoum, 16-5-2026 (SUNA) – Brigadier Ali Rizqallah “Al-Safana” officially announced his joining the ranks of the Sudanese Armed Forces and the nation, following his declaration last week that he had broken away from the rebel Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia. He affirmed that he would lead combat operations alongside the Armed Forces and allied forces to expel the militia from areas in Kordofan and Darfur, extending as far as Om Dafoug during the coming period. Speaking at a press conference in Khartoum on Saturday, Al-Safana outlined his plans for the next phase, as well as the circumstances surrounding his defection and the stages he went through until reaching Khartoum and joining the national side. He stressed that the unity of the country and the integrity of its territory can only be preserved through the Sudanese Armed Forces, describing the Army as the backbone of the nation. He added that his forces would constitute a genuine reinforcement to the Armed Forces and supporting units in efforts to liberate every inch of the country. During the press conference, he also addressed the circumstances surrounding the outbreak of the war, stating that, according to the information and evidence available to him, the militia fired the first shot and had carefully prepared for the conflict in an attempt to seize control of the country in implementation of external agendas. He added that control over the war has now gone beyond the will of the militia and its leaders, saying that the matter is now in the hands of external parties using the militia as an instrument to carry out their objectives.BH/BH