The Muslim Brotherhood aims to transform the ongoing conflict in Sudan into an ethnic struggle between Arabs and Afro-Sudanese, a goal evident in the surprise attack launched on Saturday by Joint Forces—comprising armed groups and some tribal militias—on the Zurg area in North Darfur.
According to the Rakuba website, the targeted area, Zurg, which is a desert region home to Arab tribes and the birthplace of General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), was completely devoid of military presence or strategic bases.
Yet, it was overrun, with the attackers staying for only one night. Vital infrastructure was destroyed, and civilians—mostly women and children—were targeted. Reports suggest at least 39 people were killed, with many more injured.
The escalation clearly indicates an effort to complicate the conflict in Darfur, shifting the focus from a conventional war to one fueled by ethnic tensions.
Two days ago, the RSF issued a statement claiming they had liberated the Zurg area and expelled the attacking forces, accusing the Joint Forces and Islamist militias of committing ethnic cleansing against defenseless civilians.
They detailed the intentional killings of children, women, and the elderly, as well as the burning and destruction of water wells, markets, civilian homes, health centers, schools, and all public and private facilities.
The RSF’s statement concluded by calling the attack an attempt to turn the conflict into a “tribal war serving the agenda of the oppressors.”
The pastoralists’ coordination in South Darfur also condemned the attack, labeling it a “racist assault,” and vowed to seek justice for the victims.
Observers describe the situation as a calculated move by the Islamic movement, which sparked the war, to shift it into an ethnic or tribal conflict in Darfur, using the same old tactics of “Arabs versus Afro-Sudanese” to regain power with minimal losses.
Political analysts explained that the Islamists are attempting to divert attention from the core struggle by transforming the war into a tribal conflict, thus easing the pressure on them and allowing them to reorganize and regain influence.
This strategy also involves stoking divisions within the RSF, which comprises fighters from various tribal backgrounds.
It is widely agreed that the Islamists’ ultimate goal is to convert the conflict in Sudan into ethnic and tribal disputes as a means to regain power. They are reportedly willing to sacrifice Darfur and all its components, including the armed groups currently fighting alongside the army, to achieve this at any cost.
Since the war began on April 15 of the previous year, Darfur has not experienced direct ethnic clashes between its tribal groups, with the exception of the events in Geneina.
