Abu Aqla Kikal

Abu Aqla Kikal, also spelled Abu Agla Keikel, is a Sudanese military officer and former commander in the Rapid Support Forces.
Kikal originates from Butana in central Sudan. He is a retired officer from the Sudanese Army, and founded the Sudan Shield Forces in 2002. Keikel became an activist and a key member of the executive office of the "Free Butana Forum," which focuses on Butana region affairs.
By August 2023, he declared his support for the RSF in the civil war. In October 2024, he defected to the Sudanese Armed Forces, which triggered a series of violent retaliatory attacks by the RSF on civilians in the Gezira State. These attacks have resulted in numerous casualties and widespread displacement.
In February 2025, the Human Rights Watch reported that Sudan Shield Forces, led by Abu Aqla Kikal, targeted civilians in Tayba, Gezira state, killing at least 26 people. The HRW verified the attack using satellite imagery and videos, labeling it as a potential war crime. SAF condemned the incident as an "individual transgression", but has since not launched a full investigation.
On 18 July 2025, Kikal was sanctioned by the European Union, which determined that he is "responsible for actions and policies that threaten the peace, stability and security of Sudan. In addition, he is responsible for directing acts in Sudan that constitute serious human rights violations, and for obstructing the delivery of, access to and distribution of humanitarian assistance in Sudan."