January 26, 2025 Um-Kadada – Darfur24 Local residents in Um-Kadada, located 187 kilometers northeast of El-Fasher, the Capital of North Darfur, reported on Sunday that over 80 people were killed and others injured from the Popular Resistance and civilians due to armed clashes between Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and local armed groups.
RSF launched an attack on Broush area, 17 kilometers east of Um-Kadada.
Director-General of Health Ministry in North Darfur State, Ibrahim Abdallah Khater, told “Darfur24” that they recorded 80 people killed and others injured due to the attack on the area, without providing further details.
The local leader in Um-Kadada, Saif-Eldeen Ali Nasr, told “Darfur24” that an RSF force led by Jido Gism-Elseid launched a violent attack on Broush.
He said the attack occurred early on Sunday morning following the repulsion of the first attack on Saturday by armed citizens and the Popular Resistance, who seized two vehicles belonging to the attacking force.
Nasr reported that RSF killed around 80 people, injured others, and some youths went missing. The residents were displaced en masse, and the area was completely looted.
In the same context, one of Broush residents – who preferred to remain anonymous – told “Darfur24” about mass displacement of neighboring villages towards Kordofan region, with incidents of looting and harassment by armed groups on the road connecting Um-Kadada and El-Nohoud.
He pointed out that Sunday’s attack was the fiercest of its kind, involving more than 20 four-wheel-drive combat vehicles, in addition to anti-aircraft guns against some armed citizens defending the area.
A video circulated by RSF-affiliated media, verified by “Darfur24,” showed dozens of bodies inside a deep trench, with one of the speakers counting the dead in the trench.
Last week, local residents told “Darfur24” about an RSF force led by Ibrahim Al-Tom infiltrated Broush, Um-Shawa, Hilla-Jabal, and Um-Gafla-Kaja areas, just two days after another attack led by El-Tijani on Um-Kadada, resulting in several casualties among Popular Resistance and local residents.
Um-Kadada area has been experiencing tensions and security strain for days following an attempt by an RSF group led by El-Tijani to head north in battles with another armed force called “Shougara Forces.”
Shougara Forces are a tribal militia that is part of the network of a leader in the former Bashir regime, Othman Mohamed Yousif Kibir, during his rule of North Darfur State. They controlled “Um-Kadada” after defeating an RSF force in February 2024 that had been stationed in the city.