Sudanese army retakes control of Central Darfur’s capital
August 7, 2023 (ZALINGEI) – Military sources said on Monday that the Sudanese army had broken the siege imposed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on its command in the city of “Zalingei,” the capital of Central Darfur state and extended its control over the western part of the city.
Zalingei was affected by the fierce fighting between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary forces, as the city witnessed violent clashes between the two parties, which left large numbers of victims among civilians.
The RSF and allied Arab tribal militias also looted all government institutions and headquarters of international organizations operating in the state.
“The armed forces waged fierce clashes with the RSF in the vicinity of the 21st Infantry Division command on Sunday. They managed to expel the RSF fighters stationed in the area surrounding the command,” the sources told Sudan Tribune.
He pointed out that the army took full control of the western part of Zalingei and deployed troops in the area southeast of the University of Zalingei and north of the State Legislative Council, in addition to its control of the entire Al-Hasahisa neighbourhood and west to the Aliskan Alshabi neighbourhood.
The source also said that the RSF redeployed its forces to the buildings of government ministries located about two kilometres east of the city centre of Zalingei.
On August 4, the RSF commander in Central Darfur, Ali Yacoub Gibril, announced that his forces had taken control of the state capital. He accused the army of using the residents of the Hasahisa camp for IDP as human shields, but the army spokesman denied.
The RSF are accused of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in West Darfur where hundreds were killed and thousands fled to neighbouring Chad.
Last July, Mustafa Tambour, the leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM-Tambour), announced their participation alongside the Sudanese army against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Central Darfur.
During the recent fighting in Zalingei, the capital of Central Darfur State, Tambour told Sudan Tribune that his fighters killed and wounded 68 members of the paramilitary forces.
(ST)