Tensions in North Darfur mount as RSF mobilizes near armed group stronghold
April 1, 2024 (MELLIT) – Fears of renewed conflict are mounting in Mellit, North Darfur, as tensions escalate between armed movements aligned with the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The RSF reportedly deployed heavily armed fighters near Mellit, sparking fears of a military clash in the remote area. This follows a month of deteriorating relations between the RSF and several factions of the Drfur Joint Force, including those led by Minni Minawi, Gibril Ibrahim, and a splinter group of the Gathering of Sudan Liberation Forces Rally (GSLF). These factions declared their alliance with the Sudanese army in opposition to the paramilitary forces.
The RSF has labelled these groups as targets and threatened to restrict their movement in Darfur. Earlier this week, the RSF detained five SLM-Minawi members in Mellit before releasing them under pressure.
“The RSF has mobilized forces around Mellit and has been harassing civilians in the area,” told Sudan Tribune Lt Gen Abboud Adam Khater, a member of the joint force’s command.
The joint force, composed of signatories to the peace agreement, controls Mellit, a strategic town bordering Libya that houses a key customs point and lies on the government-designated route for delivering humanitarian aid to Darfur.
Khater emphasized the joint force’s commitment to protecting civilians and hinted at a potential confrontation with the RSF. “We are prepared to act,” he said.
The tense situation has caused a mass exodus of merchants from Mellit. Fearing RSF looting, they have transported their goods to El Fasher. Trade with Kufra, Libya, has also reportedly stalled.
Mellit is a strategic gateway to North Darfur from the Libyan border. A potential outbreak of violence in Mellit could severely disrupt this vital aid flow.
The paramilitary group rejects the delivery of international aid through the government-controlled areas and calls for direct access from Chad via the West Darfur border.
(ST)