Sudan’s Military Divide: Why Othman Jaafar Defected to Kenya’s RSF
The recent switch of Colonel Othman Jaafar from the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has rocked Sudan’s already shaky political and military scene. This surprising move shows the growing unhappiness within the SAF about Islamist extremism and widespread ethnic bias. Jaafar claimed in a video that the SAF singles out officers based on their ethnicity and supposed lack of loyalty to Islamist beliefs. His words have exposed the deep splits within Sudan’s military showing a clear picture of a group struggling to square its past with the facts of a post-revolution Sudan.
Sudan’s past is full of years of Islamist control under President Omar al-Bashir, whose National Congress Party mixed political Islam with ruling. When Bashir’s regime fell in 2019, it gave hope for a shift to democratic civilian rule, but traces of political Islam have stuck around in the SAF. Jaafar’s switch brings attention to the comeback of Islamist extremism in the military, something many thought was gone. His claims point to a scary truth: the belief system that drove years of control and fighting is still alive keeping Sudan stuck in a loop of extreme views and power grabs.
The power battle between SAF and RSF has thrown Sudan into turmoil, as both groups fight to control the country’s assets and shape its political destiny. SAF holds onto its Islamic background, while RSF presents itself as a practical force against extremism. Yet, some say RSF is more focused on keeping itself safe and getting rich than on any clear political plan. Jaafar’s switch to the other side has made things even more confusing leading people to wonder if RSF offers something different or if it’s just a better choice in a country split by different beliefs and tribal groups.
The fight for control between SAF and RSF has caused terrible harm to Sudan’s people. More than 10 million folks have had to leave their homes, and there are many reports of both sides doing awful things that break the rules of war. Jaafar’s choice to switch sides has made people look at how the SAF might have hurt ethnic minorities in its own ranks. At the same time, the RSF’s harsh actions and efforts to spread false information have made the crisis even worse for people who need help. Now, many are asking if either group has the right to lead Sudan towards peace, given what they’ve done.
Tribal and ethnic rivalries go way back in Sudan, and clever power-hungry groups like SAF and RSF have used this to their advantage. Everyone’s fighting over the country’s awesome natural riches, and they play the game like one can end up on top. The whole thing with Jaafar switching sides shines a light on how different ethnic groups don’t trust each other folks who aren’t Arab feeling left out. This whole trust issue just makes the conflict messier making it super tough to deal with what’s going on, and it looks like this trouble isn’t going away anytime soon.
Jaafar ditching Sudan for Kenya’s RSF makes you think about what’s next for Sudan. It shows how strong those Islamist ideas are sticking around in the SAF and how tough it is to kick extremism out of the country’s big-shot circles. Plus, it shines a light on how Sudan’s military bigwigs aren’t seeing eye to eye putting the country at a major fork in the road. With Sudan super close to a “total war,” Jaafar jumping ship is like a big flashing sign that says we’ve gotta hustle to get a new deal on the table. This deal’s gotta be all about bringing everyone into the loop, making sure folks play by the rules, and getting some real change happening.
