Darfur violence intensifies as RSF forces seize town, deepen Sudan humanitarian crisis
At least 28 people were killed and 39 others wounded after Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) attacked a town in Darfur, according to a medical monitoring group, marking another brutal chapter in the ongoing Sudan war.
The assault targeted Misteriha in North Darfur province, a stronghold of Arab tribal leader Musa Hilal. The attack underscores growing instability in the region and raises fears of further escalation in western Sudan.
RSF Offensive Leaves Dozens Dead in Darfur
According to the Sudan Doctors Network, RSF fighters rampaged through the town on Monday, killing at least 28 people and injuring 39 others, including 10 women.
The paramilitary group reportedly launched drone strikes over the weekend before carrying out a major ground offensive. By Monday, the RSF had taken control of the town.
The RSF, which has been locked in a brutal power struggle with the Sudanese Armed Forces since 2023, has not issued immediate comment on the attack. The motives behind the assault remain unclear.
Health Facilities Targeted, Homes Burned
The doctors’ network reported that RSF shelling struck the town’s health care center, after which fighters allegedly assaulted medical staff and detained at least one health worker.
Meanwhile, Emergency Lawyers said RSF fighters torched homes, forcing residents to flee to nearby villages.
The seizure of Misteriha could strengthen RSF control across Darfur, but it risks inflaming tribal tensions in a region long scarred by conflict.
Sudan Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
Sudan’s war erupted in 2023 after tensions between the army and RSF exploded into open fighting in Khartoum before spreading nationwide. The conflict has killed thousands and displaced more than 14 million people, creating what aid agencies describe as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.
In North Darfur, violence has been particularly intense. Four months ago, RSF forces overran el-Fasher after an 18-month siege. More than 6,000 people were reportedly killed in a three-day period in late October, in attacks that UN-backed experts said bore the hallmarks of genocide.
The humanitarian outlook continues to worsen. The latest report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification warns that cases of severe acute malnutrition could rise to 800,000 — a 4 percent increase from last year.
Aid agencies are calling urgently for a ceasefire to allow safe delivery of food and medical supplies to remote areas in Darfur and Kordofan.
“The main thing that needs to happen is, of course, a ceasefire,” said Zia Salik of Islamic Relief. “Ultimately, that is what’s causing the pain and difficulty for civilians caught in the crosshairs.”
As fighting shows no sign of slowing, fears are mounting that the Sudan war will push Darfur deeper into instability, displacement and famine.
Source: Arab News