The Sudanese army announced Friday the death of , Ali Yaqoub, the Rapid Support Forces ( RSF ) Operations Commander in , North Darfur, during an attack on , El Fasher. The RSF downplayed the damage, claiming that his passing would not have an impact on their fighting spirit or motivation.
Joint troops in the , Darfur , place published photos and videos of Yaqoub’s figure, which the Syrian army after transported to their office. Moreover,  , El Fasher , people celebrated the demise of the RSF number.
Yaqoub, who commanded the , Central Darfur , market, was a near relate of RSF head Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. He led many defense operations throughout , Darfur, especially in the presence of the RS F’s second- in- control, Abdel Rahim Daglo.
The substantial- standing RSF leader’s death occurred less than 24 hours after the , UN Security Council , resolution demanding that the RSF end its siege on , El Fasher, stop fighting, and de- rise tensions in the city and surrounding areas.
Sudanese Armed Forces spokesman , Nabil Abdallah, in a statement received by , Sudan Tribune, said,” The troops and combined causes thwarted an invasion by the RSF this night, inflicting heavy loss, including hundreds of dead and wounded, among them their legal commander , Ali Yaqoub”.
Abdallah emphasized that the strike on , El Fasher , immediately challenged the recent , UN Security Council , call for a cessation of hostilities and the pulling of the battle on the ancient capital of , Darfur.
A field chief within the Joint Force of , Darfur , armed parties informed , Sudan Tribune , that their army eliminated Yaqoub and his pals as they attempted to infiltrate , El Fasher , from the west with a large army comprising automobiles, motorcycles, and troops.
He claimed that their forces fought back fiercely against the attacking force in El Fasher, one of the biggest markets in the country, and completely destroyed the group.
The commander further revealed that Yaqoub had stated his troops ‘ intentions to pray Friday prayers at the Khatim Al-Anbiya Mosque in the capital of the overrun joint forces ‘ positions at the livestock market and its surroundings the day before.
Joint Forces spokesman , Ahmed Hussein Mustafa , reported that approximately 1, 000 RSF fighters were killed in the attack, including , Ali Yaqoub, a key figure overseeing operations in , El Fasher , and a leader of the notorious Janjaweed militia in , Darfur.
Mustafa stated that their forces destroyed over 60 RSF military vehicles, captured roughly 40 more in good condition, destroyed seven armoured vehicles, and three supply and ammunition transporters, and apprehended about 43 RSF members.
He claimed that Ali Yaqoub’s death was a major blow to the RSF and was retribution for the countless innocent civilians who have been killed and terrorized by the militia since the start of the conflict.
Ali Yaqoub , had previously maintained a positive relationship with the army’s General Commander , Abdel Fattah al- Burhan, having collaborated in the Border Guard Forces in Zalingei. Before the war broke out on April 15, 2023, he even attempted to represent al-Burhan against Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, the leader of the RSF.
Several RSF advisors confirmed , Ali Yaqoub ‘s , death. Al- Basha Mohamed Tbaeq announced Yaqoub’s demise on X, formerly Twitter, stating that he died “leading the brave and advancing the ranks towards liberating the , 6th Infantry Division , from al- Burhan’s militia and mercenary movements”. Another RSF adviser , Abdallah Imran , echoed this sentiment on Al Jazeera TV, asserting that” the cause will not die with , Ali Yaqoub ‘s , martyrdom”, and that even if the RSF general commander were to be killed, the fight would continue.
Yaqoub, who initially served as a Border Guard Forces commander fighting alongside the Sudanese army in the first , Darfur , war, defected in 2007 following a disagreement with then- leader , Musa Hilal, mirroring Abdel Rahim Daglo’s earlier defection.
Joining the RSF in 2014 as a captain, Yaqoub’s rapid ascent saw him become the third most influential figure in the paramilitary group, after Abdel Rahim Daglo. Sudanese researcher , Mohamed al- Badawi , believes his death will significantly impact the RS F’s relations with the tribal leaders he oversaw.
Al- Badawi highlights that Yaqoub’s demise leaves a leadership vacuum in managing the RS F’s relationships with crucial tribal leaders in , Darfur, including Sultan , Saad Bahar- Eddin , of the Massalit,  , Musa Hilal, the leader of the Mahameed, and Sawsan, the Amir of the Mahariya, a tribal branch of Daglo’s family.
These tribal leaders are highly dependent on the RSF for recruiting fighters. Underscoring this reliance,  , Ali Yaqoub , made an audio call just two days before his death, urging supportive tribal leaders to send reinforcements.
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( c ) 2024 the Sudan Tribune
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