An armed group stormed a prison in Zalingei, Central Darfur, on Wednesday, freeing dozens of detainees and injuring at least five during clashes, according to witnesses and local sources.
Eyewitnesses told Darfur24 that the attack followed the killing of an armed man in a dispute at the “Colombia” market two days earlier. The suspected killer had been arrested and detained, prompting relatives of the deceased to mobilize a large armed force to break him out.
One witness said the attackers initially surrounded the prison on Tuesday in an unsuccessful attempt, before returning on Wednesday in greater numbers on motorbikes. They opened fire and forced their way into the facility, successfully freeing their relative as dozens of other detainees fled into nearby neighborhoods.
Clashes erupted between the attackers and the Rapid Support Forces in the vicinity of the prison, triggering heavy gunfire that left several detainees wounded. Some were transferred to hospital, with a number reported to be in critical condition.
A medical source at Zalingei Hospital confirmed receiving five injured individuals from inside the prison, adding that other wounded from both the armed group and the Rapid Support Forces had been taken to other facilities.
The incident sparked heightened security tensions across the region, with most shops in Zalingei market shutting down amid fears of escalating violence.
