Fighters from the Joint Force militia allied with General al-Burhan’s army (SAF) have given the Sixth Infantry Division’s commander, Maj. Gen. Mohamed Ahmed El-Khidir, a 10-day deadline to break the siege on their garrison and deliver supplies, or they will surrender to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), according to reliable local sources.
The ultimatum was issued at a meeting inside the division headquarters eight days ago between SAF commanders and Joint Force fighters, the sources said. They added that the deadline expires Wednesday, October 1, with RSF units encircling the base from four directions.
Under pressure from the fighters, Maj. Gen. El-Khidir accepted the deadline after informing SAF high command in Port Sudan, the sources said. An airdrop in El-Fasher on Tuesday was described as the SAF’s attempt to deliver on a promise to resupply before the cutoff.
SAF leaders in Port Sudan also pledged to push reinforcing units from Kordofan toward El-Fasher, the sources said, but those movements have stalled indefinitely amid recent RSF advances in Kordofan.
