The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have blocked armed opposition fighters from the Central African Republic from entering Sudan and using Sudanese territory to launch cross-border attacks, amid renewed tensions along the South Darfur frontier.
The RSF deployed military reinforcements on Sunday to the border area around Um Dafuq after Central African opposition fighters moved from near the Chadian frontier towards Sudan, local Sudanese media reported.
Security sources said the fighters travelled from the Saraybo area in northwestern Central African Republic and crossed into the Sudanese town of al-Quba, northwest of Um Dafuq.
Local community leaders and RSF forces intervened, prevented the group from advancing further and ordered its fighters to leave Sudanese territory, according to the report.
The fighters were reportedly positioning themselves for attacks around Um Dafuq on the Central African side of the border.
The latest incident comes amid months of instability along the Sudan-Central African Republic frontier, where rebel movements, Russian-linked forces and Sudanese armed groups have operated across a loosely controlled border.
In June, Seleka rebels seized the Central African side of Um Dafuq before government forces later regained control of the town with support from Russian forces.
The fighting was followed by tensions within the RSF itself. In July, the force detained Maj. Gen. al-Jazouli al-Tahir, the commander responsible for the Rahad al-Bardi and Um Dafuq sector, amid allegations that he had supported and provided protection to a Central African rebel group.
Earlier this year, an adviser to the RSF commander also accused Russian-linked forces operating from the Central African Republic of crossing into areas near Um Dafuq and disrupting existing cross-border security arrangements.
The adviser said the forces had entered the Karkar area, around 55 kilometres south of Um Dafuq, and displaced RSF-linked police and local administrators.
Border communities have faced recurring insecurity in recent months, with Sudanese herders and traders caught up in clashes and competing armed deployments on both sides of the frontier.
