At least 17 people were killed and several others wounded in two separate outbreaks of violence on Monday in South Darfur’s Ad Al-Fursan locality, according to eyewitnesses and local sources.
The deadliest incident unfolded in the Hilla Yahya Doud area, south of Um Zaifa, where clashes between armed groups erupted after a suspected theft spiraled into retaliation.
Witnesses said a man accused of stealing a mobile phone on Sunday evening was captured and beaten by residents before reaching his family. He was later taken to Nyala Hospital, where he died from his injuries.
His relatives subsequently mobilized armed fighters and launched an attack on the area, killing nine people, including a 13-year-old child. Several bodies were burned beyond recognition, homes were torched, and multiple civilians were injured.
A local leader said a unit from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by an officer identified as Al-Sadiq and backed by 11 vehicles, intervened to separate the sides after the violence escalated.
“Both sides had mobilized fighters, and residents fled toward Um Zaifa after large parts of the area were burned,” the source said.
In a separate incident later the same day in Um Zaifa town, at least eight people were killed in clashes between armed groups triggered by the theft of a tuk-tuk vehicle.
Eyewitnesses said the fighting led to immediate fatalities, with several others wounded and taken for treatment. Local authorities intervened to contain the situation and separate the parties.
Darfur24 could not obtain official comment from local authorities or the RSF, which controls the area.
Ad Al-Fursan has seen repeated cycles of violence in recent months. Clashes in November left at least seven people dead, underscoring the fragility of local peace efforts as armed disputes and retaliatory attacks continue across Darfur.
