Three military sources said Monday that Abdullah Banda—wanted by the International Criminal Court—has returned to Sudan following several months of medical treatment in India.
Banda is a senior figure in the Sudanese Justice and Equality Movement and a commander within the joint force fighting alongside the SAF against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
A source close to Banda told Darfur24 he came back to Port Sudan in August after more than four months of treatment. Banda had suffered a hand fracture during battles on March 22 in the town of al-Malha, about 210 km northeast of El-Fasher.
The al-Malha clashes also claimed the life of his son, Nasr al-Din Abdullah, along with several field commanders, including Abubakr Ibrahim Sharif, Mohamed Ali Ibrahim and Nader Sabon Maki.
According to the source, Banda was first taken to al-Dabba Hospital and then to the military hospital in Merowe in Northern State, but his condition did not improve. He was subsequently transferred to Egypt and later to India for further care.
Separately, another military source said Banda recently returned to the Desert Front in North Darfur with a military unit, received airdropped supplies this week, and is awaiting orders from his command.
The RSF seized al-Malha in March. The town had been under SAF control and hosted forces from armed movements, the joint force, Central Reserve Police, mobilized volunteers and local jihadist groups.
The ICC accuses Abdullah Banda of war crimes over a September 29, 2007 attack on the former UN-AU mission (UNAMID) in North Darfur.
