A Sudanese army officer played a crucial role in the Rapid Support Forces’ (RSF) capture of the city of Wad Madani in December 2023. Lieutenant Colonel Mahmoud Al-Numan, by withdrawing troops from a vital bridge, enabled the RSF to take control of the city on December 18. This action corroborates allegations made by Abu Aqla Kikal, a former RSF commander, who now serves with the army.
Al-Numan’s withdrawal allowed the RSF to seize the strategically important Al-Halfaya Bridge. Before the event, he had previously removed his battalion from the key position in Al-Kadru without orders. Despite an intelligence report on the matter, no disciplinary action was taken. Al-Numan later left Khartoum and joined the army’s military intelligence in Wad Madani.
In response to the incident, a confidential warning about Al-Numan was issued within the military’s intelligence division. A senior official confirmed the existence of a report detailing concerns over his actions.
The aftermath saw Major General Ahmed Al-Tayeb and six other officers referred to military court in May 2024, although their trial has been indefinitely postponed. Al-Numan eventually joined the RSF’s intelligence division during a time of internal disarray within the Sudanese army.
Amidst these developments, army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan faced difficulties reorganizing his forces while senior officers remained trapped at army headquarters in Khartoum.
