The Silent Military Coffin: What Devastating Blow Did the Sudanese Army Deliver to Shake “Abdel Rahim Dagalo” to His Core?

Sudanhorizon – Azmi Abdel Razek

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) suffered a severe blow recently, likely prompting changes in their rebellion strategies to counter the army’s advancing units poised for an offensive. This setback appears to have driven “Taqaddam,” the political arm of the Janjaweed, to resurface the idea of an exile government and delegitimise the military establishment, indicating a defeat that has triggered a domino effect in militia-controlled areas, leading to escapes, surrenders, or soldiers waiting on the brink of collapse.

Central States Connection
A brief look at the evolving field situation reveals a series of successive defeats for the RSF, starting with the army’s crossing of bridges in Khartoum in September, reclaiming significant parts of Al-Muqrin and Bahri areas, and encircling the rebel forces at Al-Jeili refinery. Joint forces have severed supply lines in Darfur’s deserts, with El Fasher becoming a graveyard for invaders. Meanwhile, the “Hunter Force” has penetrated Kordofan’s wilderness, breaking the militia’s defences and injuring their commander, Shiriya. Sennar State is now nearly free of rebellion, with the army preparing to storm Wad Madani and connect the central states.

Leadership Crisis
The RSF faces a severe field leadership crisis. Key commanders such as Ali Yaqoub, Abdulrahman Al-Beishi, and Abdelmoneim Shiriya have been killed, while field commander Hussein Barsham has fled after being injured in recent battles. Even Lieutenant General Essam Fadil, the militia’s third-ranking commander, appears physically unwell or injured. The defection of Abu Aqla Kaikal to the armed forces has shocked the RSF, leading to retaliatory campaigns against civilians in Eastern Gezira. Commander Othman “Operations” is likely isolated, operating from a fragile base akin to a spider’s web, failing to capture new territories, and shifting strategies to drone strikes on residential areas in Omdurman, as well as targeting River Nile and Northern States with drones launched from Chadian airbases, according to the Ministry of Defence.
This continued attrition suggests the militia has insufficient field commanders to deploy across combat fronts. Abdullah Hamdok, the head of “Taqaddam,” is now focusing on an exile government proposal endorsed by the Revolutionary Front and figures such as Al-Taher Hajar, Suleiman Sandal, Osama Saeed, Taha Ishaq, Ibrahim Al-Mirghani, and others.

Nyala Strike Secrets
The air force recently launched a significant strike on Nyala Airport, a hub for Emirati supply planes transporting RSF commanders for treatment in Abu Dhabi and Chad. The strike targeted critical military facilities, including a jamming system and munitions depots, reportedly killing Emirati officers. These attacks have escalated the RSF’s retaliatory campaigns, while Taqaddam’s political arm has propagated misinformation, drawing attention away from their atrocities against civilians.
The army, however, remains committed to its legitimate defence of Sudan, targeting any facilities used for hostile purposes. A military analysis page on Facebook likened the Nyala strike to a matador’s final blow in Spanish bullfighting. This sharp, decisive move has rattled Abdel Rahim Dagalo, potentially risking his external support as he struggles to fulfil promises of capturing El Fasher.
Reverse Encirclement
Retired Brigadier General Ibrahim Aqil Madbo praised the Sudanese army’s tactical brilliance, describing its counter-strategy as a “reverse encirclement,” a precise military manoeuvre aimed at isolating enemy forces by cutting key supply routes. This approach has disrupted RSF operations in central Sudan, enabling the army to reclaim vital regions and prepare for decisive action.
Madbo noted the army’s preparations around Gezira as a “silent military coffin” tactic—a calculated strategy to lure the enemy into pre-prepared killing zones, leading to their eventual dismantlement.

Plan “C”: Drone Warfare
Former combatant Anwar Sheiba attributed the RSF’s mounting defeats to dwindling resources and manpower. He predicts the rebellion will shift to “Plan C,” focusing on drone warfare and long-range artillery, which he describes as a cowardly strategy. He highlighted the militia’s inevitable collapse, with its leadership fleeing and external backers like the UAE persisting out of desperation.

The Final Chapter
Recent developments, including the army’s control of key Khartoum bridges, the isolation of RSF units in Omdurman and Khartoum, and the neutralisation of strategic points like Jebel Awlia Bridge, suggest that Sudan may be nearing the final phase of this gruelling conflict. As the RSF leadership disintegrates and its forces grow increasingly isolated, the days ahead may reveal the conclusive outcome of this battle for Sudan’s sovereignty.