KHARTOUM, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Commander of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in central Sudan Abu Aqla Keikel on Sunday surrendered himself with his forces to the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), the SAF said in a statement.
"Today, after leaving the ranks of the rebels, Commander Abu Aqla Keikel sided with the right and the homeland and decided to fight side by side with our forces," the office of the SAF's spokesman said in the statement.
"The armed forces welcome this courageous step and stress that their doors will remain open to whoever sides with the homeland and its armed forces," it added.
The statement reaffirmed the pardon issued by Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, the chairman of the Transitional Sovereign Council and commander of the SAF, for "any rebel who sides with the homeland and reports to the nearest military command in all regions of Sudan."
In August 2023, Keikel, who leads the Sudan Shield Forces, an unofficial military group, declared his support and alignment with the RSF, which has been fighting against the SAF since mid-April 2023.
After the RSF seized control of Gezira State in December 2023, it assigned Keikel as commander of its operations in central Sudan.
According to a situation report published by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data on Oct. 14, the deadly conflict between the SAF and the RSF has resulted in more than 24,850 deaths. ■