Al-Daein, February 14 (Darfur24)
The Rapid Support Forces have begun constructing an oil refinery near the Sufyan oil field in East Darfur State as part of efforts to restart oil production in the region, according to three informed sources who described ongoing technical and security preparations around the site.
Two sources affiliated with the RSF’s civilian administration in Al-Daein said a committee headed by Major General Juma Baraka Allah initiated steps in mid-2025 to rehabilitate oil infrastructure. The committee reportedly visited the Sufyan field with an engineering delegation to assess operational needs ahead of resuming pumping.
A separate source from the local administration confirmed that an RSF military unit, accompanied by foreign engineers, arrived last October in the Badi area near the field with heavy drilling equipment intended for refinery construction.
Darfur24 had reported in July that RSF elements transported crude oil from the Sufyan field using fuel tankers, triggering disputes between forces stationed in the area and other RSF elements involved in the transfer.
According to sources, the RSF later deployed a protection force of around 60 vehicles under the command of Captain Imad Dashoun, who is tasked with securing the oil facilities. Residents were reportedly prevented from approaching the site. A delegation from the local administration sought clarification and was told the project was being implemented under RSF directives to provide fuel and revive oil production. Sources added that RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo emphasized the project’s importance through military spokesperson statements, saying the rights of local communities would be safeguarded.
Eyewitnesses from Badi reported seeing foreign personnel wearing RSF uniforms in local markets late last year.
Darfur24 was unable to obtain a comment from the oil minister in the government formed by Prime Minister Mohamed Hassan al-Ta’aishi, appointed in January.
Sources did not disclose the refinery’s projected production capacity or identify the company implementing the project. The RSF controls East Darfur, which contains approximately 23 oil wells across the Sufyan, Sharf, and Tarfiya fields, in addition to the Zarqa Umm Hadida field shared with West Kordofan State, known as Block 6.
According to data from Sudan’s Ministry of Energy, these fields were producing at least 3,000 barrels per day before the outbreak of war between the army and the RSF in April 2023, after which facilities were damaged or looted amid ongoing fighting.