Um Dafuq – Darfur24
Security tensions escalated on Tuesday along the Sudan–Central African Republic border following the deployment of Russian forces and allied local fighters on the Central African side of the frontier, while Rapid Support Forces (RSF) units reinforced positions on the Sudanese side in the border town of Um Dafuq.
Residents and local sources said the escalation was triggered by the killing of a Sudanese citizen inside Central African territory on Monday, as well as attacks on other Sudanese nationals traveling to markets across the border. Survivors and residents accused local fighters allied with Russian forces of carrying out the attacks.
Ahmed Al-Tahir, a resident of Um Dafuq, told Darfur24 that news of the incident sparked anger among local communities, leading to gatherings of victims’ relatives and threats to retaliate against the neighboring Central African town of Am Dafok. The situation quickly heightened tensions between communities on both sides of the border.
Multiple eyewitnesses reported a significant deployment of Russian personnel and allied fighters in the border area, accompanied by the sound of heavy weapons fire and gunshots near Um Dafuq. In response, RSF forces moved additional personnel into the area but refrained from engaging, following intervention by local community leaders and administrators who worked to prevent the situation from escalating into a broader confrontation.
The developments come a day after two Sudanese traders were killed and four others injured in the Terfila area inside the Central African Republic. Survivors blamed Russian forces and allied local fighters for the attack. Neither the Central African authorities nor Russian officials had commented on the allegations by the time of publication.
Border regions between Sudan and the Central African Republic have witnessed recurring security incidents in recent months amid the presence of Russian-backed forces supporting the Central African government and ongoing accusations of attacks targeting Sudanese traders and herders operating near the frontier.