November 5, El Fasher — The Sudanese Army and the Joint Force of the Armed Movements have deployed large military reinforcements in the areas of the desert axis northeast of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, in preparation for new military operations.
A military source, who preferred to remain anonymous, told Darfur24 that the Sudanese Army sent military reinforcements in October to the Darfur region in preparation for opening up in a number of areas under the control of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the region. Allegedly reinforcements include 180 combat vehicles.
The RSF are fighting intensely to takeover El Fasher, the last stronghold of the Sudanese army in the Darfur region. They control all military bases in the surrounding cities and have held most of North Darfur since the conflict began in April 2023. In the last month fighting in the region has majorly escalated with invasion and deaths in multiple villages.
On Monday, the Sudan Tribune reported that a prominent tribal leader warned of imminent RSF attacks on three localities in North Darfur, raising further fears of escalation.
Over the weekend the RSF heavily shelled a large market in El Fasher, the southern neighborhoods of the city and a number of army bases which resulted in civilian deaths and injury. The military hospital is allegedly on the brink of collapse due to severe overcrowding and a lack of medical staff. Wounded victims are reportedly lying in the hospital courtyard and surrounding roads waiting for medical attention.
Since mid-October, the RSF has also been conducting revenge attacks against villages inhabited by the Zaghawa ethnic group in Kutum for allegedly supporting the army. More than 45 villages have allegedly been burned.