El Geneina, July 30(Darfur 24)
The Rapid Support Forces announced on Wednesday that they had taken control of the Umm Samima area, located west of El Obeid, North Kordofan State, following fierce battles with the Sudanese army and allied forces.
RSF posted videos on scocial media showing some of the military battles, in which their fighters claimed to have taken control of the area, which they consider strategic.
In a statement, RSF said that the Recapture of Umm Samima “comes as the first good news after formation of the new government and within the framework of the well-thought-out military plans being implemented by the forces, aimed at expanding the scope of operational openness and advancing towards the enemy’s strongholds .”
The statement added that “RSF have entered an advanced and decisive phase in their battle against the Sudanese army and are working to establish and build Sudan on a new, just foundation.”
Founders in the field told Darfur 24 that the Rapid Support Forces had taken control of the Umm Samima area following fierce battles that lasted more than six months. Hours later, military positions were deployed in the vicinity.
Fighters affiliated with the Rapid Support Forces posted videos on social media, claiming to document their capture of a number of army soldiers and armed movements, as well as their seizure of military vehicles.
As of this writing, neither the army nor the armed movements allied with it had issued any statement or comment on today’s fighting.
Army forces had taken control of the Umm Samima area on July 13 following fierce fighting that forced the Rapid Support Forces to retreat to the Al-Khawi area.