Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) announced on Sunday that they had recaptured the strategic al-Zurug base in North Darfur.
The base had fallen to the Joint Forces, allied with General Abdel Fattah al Burhan’s army, just a day prior, marking a significant clash in the 20-month-long conflict.
The ongoing war between the RSF and Burhan’s forces, which erupted in April 2023, has intensified in the Darfur region.
North Darfur, a hotspot of violence, remains critical as the army and its allies struggle to maintain territorial control.
The RSF accused the Joint Forces of committing atrocities during the raid, including targeting civilians and burning essential infrastructure.
“The Joint Forces carried out ethnic cleansing and destroyed homes, markets, wells, and public facilities,” the RSF said in a statement.
Ethnic tensions between Arab tribes supporting the RSF and the Zaghawa-dominated Joint Forces have fueled further unrest.
According to the United Nations, at least 782 civilians have died in al-Fashir since April due to relentless attacks.
On Sunday, activists reported over 30 missiles striking by Burhan’s army various neighborhoods in al-Fashir, escalating fears of further devastation.
Seizing control of al-Fashir is pivotal for the RSF, potentially strengthening their bid to establish a contested government.
The situation in Darfur underscores the growing instability in Sudan, with civilians bearing the brunt of the conflict’s toll.
