Khartoum, September 22 (Darfur24)
Military sources and eyewitnesses reported on Sunday a significant buildup of forces and rising tensions involving the joint forces of armed movements, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and their allies in parts of North Darfur along the desert strip bordering Libya and Chad.
Residents informed Darfur24 that for almost a month, military concentrations have been observed in the towns of Karnoi, Tina, and Ambaro, as well as in the areas of Wadi Hawr and Dabba in Northern State, amidst ongoing clashes in El Fasher.
A source within the joint forces stated that reinforcements were deployed in Tina, near the Chadian border, in anticipation of an RSF attack. He emphasized that these movements were defensive in nature and not part of a planned offensive elsewhere.
A community leader in Karnoi added that these deployments followed reports of a potential RSF assault on the town.
Fighting in the border triangle has largely subsided since last June, when the RSF seized the area and the Sudanese army along with its allies withdrew. Calm has also been restored in Drishqi, Al-Siyah, Madu, Mo, and Al-Maliha following intense battles earlier this year.
According to military sources, the Sudanese army and joint forces have mobilized combat vehicles and equipment from Al-Khanaq and Karb al-Toum towards the Sahara Desert along the Libyan border while amassing troops at the Chevron base. Their stated goal is to advance towards El Fasher, lift the RSF siege, and capture the Al-Zarq base to cut off supply routes from the border triangle into Darfur.
In Al-Malah, located 210 km northeast of El Fasher, residents reported RSF regrouping on Saturday evening, supported by new reinforcements from Kordofan. The town remains tense amid reports of army and joint force deployments in nearby mining areas of Takro along the Northern State border.
The RSF has controlled Al-Maliha since April, following heavy clashes that forced the joint forces to retreat.
Meanwhile, a drone strike, believed to have been carried out by the Sudanese military, hit the RSF-held town of Al-Zarq, located 80 km north of El Fasher, on Saturday, resulting in the deaths of five people and injuring six others.
Cities across Darfur have experienced repeated drone strikes in recent months, including Nyala, Zalingei, El Daein, Kutum, El Koma, Mellit, El Fasher, El Tina, El Malha, and Umm Kadada.