Coinciding with the battle for the presidential palace in Khartoum, fierce fighting erupted since dawn yesterday (Thursday) in Al-Malha locality in North Darfur, where Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are attempting to advance while the army forces are preoccupied with battles in the capital Khartoum.
The RSF seeks to recapture Al-Malha locality and redeploy its forces in the triangle of Sudan-Libya-Chad international borders, a central area for supply lines that used to reach them from abroad. In a statement, the RSF claimed that its forces had already taken control of Al-Malha after besieging the army and joint force camp ther.
In response, the governor of Darfur region, Minni Arko Minnawi, stated that “the army forces and the joint force of armed movements are currently engaged in fierce battles in Al-Malha, standing firmly and courageously to defend the land”.
Meanwhile, the commander of Blue Nile sector operations, Ali Hassan Bello, announced that Sennar state in the southeast of the country is now free of RSF, pointing to recent army victories in the last RSF strongholds in the Dali and Mazmoum areas.
The army also recaptured the villages of Habiba and Al-Farajin in White Nile state and continued its operations towards Jebel Awlia, south of Khartoum.
Late yesterday, the Sudanese News Agency (SUNA) reported that the armed forces and the joint force achieved a victory over the militia in Al-Malha locality in North Darfur.
The joint force of armed struggle movements stated in a Facebook post that they had “crushed them and forced them to flee,” praying for mercy and forgiveness for the souls of the martyrs, speedy recovery for the wounded, and the return of the missing.
In a related development, RSF forces attacked the villages of Um Sidra in Abu Quta administrative unit on Thursday. Human rights groups reported that the attacking force terrorized residents, looted their properties, leading to mass displacement of many families.
The “Nidaa Al-Wasat” group, active in monitoring violations, stated that the attacking force expanded from the Industrial Unit administrative area in Al-Kamlin locality, which is still under RSF control. They accused the RSF of killing, looting, and kidnapping civilians, imposing a siege, and demanding large financial levies in exchange for allowing citizens to flee these areas.
Recent RSF attacks on the areas of Al-Jadid, Habiba, Al-Halqi, and Al-Farajin have resulted in dozens of civilian deaths over the past two weeks. Human rights groups warn that the siege imposed by RSF forces is causing a deterioration of humanitarian conditions, with food shortages and a complete lack of health care
