Sudan Nashra: Darfur descends into own war | RSF captures strategic city near Fasher | Anticipated battles in North Kordofan

After a year of internal strife, Sudan continues to grapple with an armed conflict that has plagued its modern history. The war that erupted in Khartoum and consumed the historic capital, which had thrived for thousands of years, has set off a chain reaction of destruction, unleashing one of the most devastating conflicts the country has witnessed. 

The events of the last year have cast a shadow over the lives of nearly 50 million people, fracturing Sudan’s agricultural sustainability, its educational system and nearly all basic services. 

As the war rages on, Darfur is entering a new phase of its own conflict, with several armed movements in the region aligning with the Sudanese military against the Rapid Support Forces, reigniting old and long-standing enmities.

Tensions are mounting as the conflict enters its second year. North Darfur has become a battleground for a resurgent war unfolding in local villages near the historic capital of Fasher. Intense battles have broken out between the joint forces of Darfuri movements and the Sudanese Armed Forces on one side, and the RSF on the other. 

The RSF burned around seven villages and camps inhabited by groups affiliated with the Zaghawa tribe, prompting the joint forces and the military to intervene. 

Subsequently, Darfur Governor Minni Arko Minnawi appeared in a recorded address to articulate the regional government's stance, as well as that of the Sudan Liberation Movement he leads, SLM (Minnawi), on the RSF in the impending conflict in Darfur.

Meanwhile, Transitional Sovereignty Council head and Sudanese Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan visited the Wadi Sidna Air Base from April 10 to April 12 in the Karrari military zone in Omdurman, where he met with various military leaders and conducted tours of the recently liberated Old Omdurman. 

According to a military source who spoke to Mada Masr, Burhan visited strategic military sites in Omdurman, while military advances in Bahri and Omdurman persist as the armed forces continue to comb the Shagara military area, south of Khartoum, and its surrounding neighborhoods.

On the political front, the Paris conference, which is not being attended by the military, has offered little in determining the prospects for a political resolution to the crisis. Military sources told Mada Masr that the Sudanese Armed Forces will likely participate in the forthcoming negotiation round in Jeddah, with the potential inclusion of Egypt and the United Arab Emirates to facilitate dialogue and address concerns.

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Military complexities in Darfur and escalation in Fasher

The Sudanese military, backed by armed movements, has been engaged in a six-month-long military mobilization in Fasher, the historic capital of the Darfur region, against the RSF.

Fasher stands as a pivotal point in the course of the Darfur war, a conflict that grows more intricate by the day due to the region's tumultuous history of civil discord. 

The battles in Darfur, and western Sudan at large, surpass the complexities of the military and political scene in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, which had reached a stalemate by April 15, 2023. 

For 21 years, Darfur, the turbulent region on Sudan's western border, has been engulfed in unrelenting strife.

While Darfur’s armed movements establish military factions, civil conflicts spanning two decades over land and resources persist.

Fasher’s battleground symbolizes the culmination of military paradoxes. Here, armed movements face off against the RSF, created to fight the armed movements on behalf of the state, in a role reversal scenario, fighting on behalf of the military. 

Conversely, the RSF, in their own narrative and following the rupture of their alliance with the military during the war, now position themselves as advocates for more equitable distribution of wealth, power, and justice, issues previously championed by the armed movements.

In May of last year, a month after the outbreak of war, the armed movements formed what is known as the joint force to protect civilians. This force comprises armed factions from Darfur, and others from Chad led by Justice and Equality commander Abdallah Banda, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court. 

Banda previously told Mada Masr that the force’s main objective is to safeguard citizens on behalf of the movements and the military, while stressing the ambiguity surrounding the RSF’s motives.

Banda said that the upcoming phase is the most critical, asserting that armed movements do not fight to protect the military or the RSF, but to protect citizens. He added that the unfolding violence in West Darfur is historically exceptional, surpassing even the 2004 genocide in severity. To illustrate his point, Banda pointed to the RSF burying members of the Masalit tribe alive in Ardamata when the paramilitary group seized control of the city in November of last year.

The Justice and Equality Movement, a key rebel faction that later fought as a mercenary group in Libya, has spearheaded the strategic military coordination for these movements under the leadership of Brigadier Bakhit Dabago, one of the military leaders who founded the armed movements in 2001. 

Additionally, the armed movements signatory to the 2020 Juba Peace Agreement established a coordination chamber in November, focusing on military strategy development and assisting in the training of the movements. 

Three training camps were set up inside Sudan, alongside others in Eritrea, where the special operation forces of the Justice and Equality Movement and the Sudan Liberation Movement (Minnawi) underwent advanced military training.

The camps within Sudan were distributed between the states of Kassala and Gadarif in eastern Sudan. They hosted the forces of Mostafa Tambour and SLM (Minnawi), while Kassala hosted the forces of Abdallah Bishr Gali, who replaced Abu Bakr Hagar as leader of the Sudan Liberation Forces Alliance.

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Combat intensifies

Last week witnessed a surge in hostilities as clashes intensified between the Sudanese military, backed by the armed movements’s joint force, and the RSF and allied militias in Fasher and other parts of North Darfur State. The confrontations resulted in casualties and injuries among civilians, as well as the displacement of hundreds of families from conflict-affected areas.

Following the RSF’s assault on several villages west of Fasher, the joint force announced in November that they had abandoned their neutrality to join the military in launching offensives against the RSF. The latter, in turn, considered the movements aligned with the military as legitimate targets for their forces on all fronts.

In a recorded message on X to mark a year since the outbreak of the war, RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo “Hemedti,” stated that the armed movements that chose to stand against them had gravely betrayed Darfur.

Meanwhile, Minnawi stressed that Fasher and all other cities in Darfur stand against the RSF. "We did not wish to be part of this war until it became an invasion and an affront to our homeland," he stated. 

On Tuesday, Fasher witnessed its most intense clashes since the conflict began, with both sides employing heavy and light weaponry. The northern and eastern peripheries of the city turned into open battlegrounds, with indiscriminate shelling striking within the city, particularly in the Nifasha camp for internally displaced persons, where 13 civilians, including women and children, were killed, and others were injured.

Meanwhile, the military conducted a successful air drop operation to reinforce the Sixth Infantry Division with weapons, ammunition, and military equipment that could aid in repelling RSF attacks and defeating them, a military source told Mada Masr. The reinforcements were airlifted due to logistical challenges in ground supply, given the city's distance from the nearest military supply center and the security risks along the route, according to the source. 

In a statement on Tuesday, the joint force reported that they had inflicted casualties among the RSF’s ranks and destroyed RSF military vehicles and equipment. In the eastern battlefront of Fasher, they said they destroyed and set fire to five combat vehicles and one armored vehicle, in addition to killing and injuring 17 RSF fighters. In the northern front, they reported destroying five combat vehicles and incurring further casualties.

In contrast, the RSF seized control of the city of Malit, located 65 kilometers north of Fasher, following battles with a force from the armed movements, effectively imposing a siege on Fasher.

Fasher stands as one of the most significant strongholds still under military control in the Darfur region.

According to a field military source who spoke to Mada Masr, the RSF captured a camp belonging to the joint force in Malit and killed and captured several soldiers. The source also said that the RSF established an administrative authority in Malit.

Fasher also witnessed conflicts of a different nature, earlier this week, between the joint force and forces from the Sudan Liberation Movement-Transitional Council, led by Al-Hadi Idris, due to disagreements following the latter's decision to withdraw from the joint force and refusal to align with the military. Idriss was expelled from the Sovereignty Council in November over accusations that he was siding with the RSF.

Journalist Mohie Eddin al-Sahaf, reporting from Fasher, expressed concerns over the unprecedented tensions in North Darfur State, with ongoing airstrikes on RSF positions east of Fasher. He also told Mada Masr that villages in the western outskirts were burned by militias allied with the RSF, with the latest incident occurring in the Amar Gadid area on Monday.

Sahaf warned that the conflict in Fasher might take on an ethnic dimension following the recent clashes between armed movements and the RSF. He also warned of a worsening humanitarian crisis due to disrupted aid deliveries and the interruption of commercial trucks caused by the battles in Malit.

Malit, seized by the RSF, was the sole gateway to supply Fasher with goods, according to Sahaf, who anticipated a period of scarcity and price hikes in the near future.

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Ongoing battles in the Kordofan region

In the southwestern part of the country, specifically in the border city of Babanusa in West Kordofan State, the intensity of clashes subsided last week, while military fighter jets continued to target RSF positions within and outside the city.

Eyewitnesses told Mada Masr that a convoy of combat vehicles transporting RSF fighters withdrew from Babanusa and other areas in West Kordofan State, regrouping in the town of Um Rawaba in North Kordofan State in preparation for anticipated battles in the region. This comes after the military deployed additional forces in the town of Tendelti in White Nile State and military leaders announced plans to liberate areas under RSF control in North Kordofan.

According to the eyewitnesses, the military conducted the first airstrike since the RSF took control of Um Rawaba several months ago. 

As a result, the RSF evacuated from the city and took over civilian homes. The turmoil instilled fear among the town's residents and led to the closure of the main market, according to the sources.

The sources also noted that the RSF and criminal games are looting and extorting travelers moving along the main road linking Tendelti and Um Rawaba, particularly near the villages of Karmel and Tabaldiya.

Babanusa has been the target of repeated RSF assaults since January in the militia’s ceaseless attempts to capture the military’s 22nd Division.

Situated near the border with South Sudan, Babanusa has seen fierce attacks by the RSF, despite pleas from civil leaders to refrain from engaging with the military in the area due to fears that an offensive would ignite the city’s delicate tribal and ethnic dynamics.

Additionally, the strategic city of Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan State, saw military operations last week. Indiscriminate shelling by the RSF on the city’s western neighborhoods resulted in casualties among civilians.

In a related context, Ibrahim al-Houry, former editor-in-chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces newspaper, stated on Facebook that the Fifth Infantry Division (camel cavalry) in Obeid seized one of the artillery weapons used by the RSF to shell the city.

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Battles in Khartoum as second year of conflict begins

After a year since the onset of the first military clashes in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, where thousands of operations have taken place, Mada Masr revisits the nature of combat in the state from which around 7 million people have been displaced. During this time, the tri-city capital faced the largest humanitarian catastrophe in its modern history. 

The military operations in Khartoum unfolded as follows, field military sources told Mada Masr:

Battles in Khartoum city

In a vital area spanning a few kilometers, the main confrontations unfolded between the armed forces and the RSF to gain control over key military and civilian facilities. 

The battlegrounds primarily centered around the presidential palace, the General Command headquarters, and the Khartoum International Airport.

Battles in Bahri city 

Bahri, located north of Khartoum and locally known as the "industrial capital," as it hosts the country's largest factories, witnessed clashes in its northern and eastern regions, including the East Nile area and the Kafouri neighborhood. 

The conflict extended within the border bridges of Manshiya, Shambat, Halfaya, Mek Nimr, Armed Forces, and Blue Nile. The bridges link Bahri to Khartoum and Omdurman from several directions, serving as vital supply lines for both the military and the RSF.

Battles in Omdurman city

The city, located west of Khartoum, plays a significant political and military role as it houses the Engineers Corps in the Omdurman military zone and Wadi Sidna Air Base in the Karrari military zone, in addition to the national radio and television headquarters. Over around eight months, military operations in Omdurman focused on breaking the siege on the Engineers Corps and reclaiming control of the radio and television buildings.

Military bases

Military bases in the capital’s cities witnessed intense battles over the past year, resulting in the RSF’s control over some bases while the military retained key camps. 

The RSF captured the Jabal al-Awliya military zone in the southernmost part of Khartoum, including the Nugumi air base, and maintained their presence in the Tiba al-Hasanab area. Conversely, the armed forces retained the Shagara military base, housing the Armor and Ammunition Corps, south of Khartoum, and captured the Jabal Surkab camp in Omdurman during the early stages of the conflict.

Cautious calm in Khartoum cities

The cities of Greater Khartoum are currently experiencing a cautious calm after over a year of confrontations. The military’s recent strategies centered on employing drones in extended operations in the cities of Khartoum, especially in eastern Khartoum and northern Bahri. In contrast, the RSF has scaled back their presence around military strongholds since the start of April 2024.

A military source told Mada Masr that the RSF has withdrawn some of its forces to the borders of Gezira State to reinforce their troops in the area. Regarding the Sudanese Armed Forces’ current situation in Khartoum, another military source told Mada Masr that efforts are underway to connect the military camps, with extensive military operations currently taking place in the Gaili area north of Khartoum.

According to the military source, the operations involve encircling the Gaili area, with remote combat strategies employed to remove the RSF from the Gaili oil refinery with minimal losses, due to its strategic importance.

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Paris conference

Amid tensions, the Paris conference, held on April 15, was organized by the French and German foreign ministries and the European Union who extended invitations to around 50 Sudanese figures. 

A political source who attended the conference told Mada Masr that the event focused on two aspects: the first involved local and international governments and agencies invested in Sudanese affairs and the humanitarian crisis. The second revolved around European political institutions involved in the Sudanese crisis. 

The source said that “the French state extended invitations to political blocs and alliances across the board on an individual basis.” The source added that the conference discussed strategies to halt the war and mitigate its repercussions, but it did not yield any specific recommendations.

The Civil Front for Democracy spokesperson Bakry al-Jack told Mada Masr that the front did not participate in the conference. Jack confirmed that the invitations were personalized, and that the conference concluded with consensus among participants on ending the war.

Jack noted that financial pledges from approximately 15 countries, which amounted to US$2 billion, fall short of the United Nations' estimated need of $2.7 billion.

Jack said that the conference succeeded in garnering support and shedding light on the Sudanese crisis, creating systematic backing to facilitate aid delivery and pressuring the warring parties to agree to a ceasefire. 

He said that “military arrangements regarding cessation of hostilities take precedence, while the political process involving civil forces is a matter for later.” 

Jack also said that the front’s stance prioritizes a civilian-involved ceasefire, crucial for monitoring guarantees and what he described as ethical commitments.

Regarding the way forward, Jack outlined three key strategies: mass mobilization to expose the war and challenge its narrative and legitimacy; diplomatic efforts in coordination with regional and international stakeholders to establish a unified negotiation platform; and direct engagement with the warring parties to achieve a ceasefire for humanitarian work to proceed.

In contrast, the Sudanese government criticized the Paris conference in a statement released by the Foreign Ministry during the proceedings, asserting that the state is the sole official representative of the country in various regional and international forums, and existing mutual diplomatic representation with numerous countries worldwide, including France.

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Foreign minister and several governors dismissed

Sudan’s Prime Minister Osman Hussein has removed the governors of Kassala and Gadarif in the eastern region of the country. The dismissals were reportedly due to internal disputes, according to government sources in the two states. In Kassala, the dismissed governor was involved in confrontations with local leadership over his administrative policies, according to government sources in the state.

Meanwhile, civil leader and the chief of the Hadendoa tribes in eastern Sudan, Sayed Turk, held a press conference in his stronghold in Kassala State, rejecting the appointed state governor.

Burhan appointed retired military figures to assume the roles of the dismissed governors, placing all three eastern Sudan states under the administration of former military generals with intelligence backgrounds.

Regarding the dismissal of the now former Foreign Minister Ali al-Sadig, who worked with Burhan following the overthrowal of the transitional government in October 2021, and the appointment of the former ministry's undersecretary Hussein Awad in his place, sources in the Foreign Ministry told Mada Masr that the decision was based on a retirement request previously submitted by the former minister to Burhan.