KHARTOUM — Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) is considering withdrawing thousands of its fighters deployed in Saudi Arabia following public criticism from Riyadh at the United Nations, according to sources cited by Darfur24.
The sources said RSF units operating alongside the Saudi-led coalition had withdrawn from several forward positions near the Saudi-Yemeni border and regrouped at their main bases while awaiting further instructions from the group’s leadership.
The reported move comes amid growing tensions between the RSF and Saudi Arabia over the Sudan conflict. Riyadh has repeatedly called for an end to the fighting in Sudan and has participated in diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving a ceasefire and resolving the conflict.
The RSF has maintained a presence in the region as part of Saudi-led military operations in Yemen, where Saudi Arabia intervened in 2015 against the Iran-aligned Houthi movement. Sudan was among the countries that contributed forces to the coalition during the conflict.
A withdrawal of thousands of RSF personnel could mark a significant shift in the group’s regional military posture and could further strain its relationship with Riyadh.
The sources did not indicate whether the RSF leadership had made a final decision to withdraw all of its forces from Saudi Arabia. The reported regrouping could also represent a temporary repositioning while the group assesses its next steps.
The development comes as Sudan’s war, which erupted in April 2023 between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), continues to fuel a major humanitarian and political crisis.
Neither the RSF nor Saudi authorities have publicly confirmed the reported withdrawal plan.
