Sudanese army repels major attack by RSF in South Darfur

KHARTOUM, Sudan

The Sudanese army on Wednesday repelled a major attack by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on the headquarters of the 16th Infantry Division in South Darfur state. Sudanese military aircraft participated in the battle, bombing RSF positions in various city areas.

The state of South Darfur has been affected by violent fighting between the army and the RSF, with fierce clashes in Nyala, Kass, Um Dafuq, and Mershng. 

The United Nations estimates that the fighting has left many casualties and displaced about 50,000 residents of Nyala.

The RSF is seeking to control the army garrison in Nyala to gain control of the strategically located state of South Darfur. Still, the army has been determined to defend its base in the city centre.

A statement issued by Sudanese army spokesman Nabil Abdullah said, “Today, the forces of the 16th Infantry Division in Nyala repelled an attack by the Rapid Support Forces, which mobilized thousands of mercenaries.”

He added that the attacking force was forced to flee after suffering heavy losses in lives and equipment.

Military sources told Sudan Tribune that over the past three weeks, the RSF has mobilized thousands of fighters from the states of Central, West, and North Darfur, as well as other forces from the cities of Kas, Rahid Al-Bardi, Buram, and Um Dafuq to participate in the attack on the division’s headquarters.

The sources said that the RSF carried out the heaviest attack on the army’s military base with a large force led by a Rapid Support Colonel named Salah Al-Fouti. The force used all types of weapons, including drones, to target sites surrounding the military garrison.

The sources added, “The army responded to successive waves of attacks, inflicting heavy losses on the attacking forces in lives and military vehicles, capturing several fighters, including a major officer, and destroying military vehicles in the vicinity of the Grand Market and the neighbourhoods surrounding the army headquarters.”

On August 21, the commander of the 16th Infantry Division, Major General Yasser Fadlallah, was killed inside the army headquarters in the city after his guard shot him.

Meanwhile, army warplanes bombed rapid support sites south of Nyala, including the Popular Market, the livestock market, and other troop concentration sites.

This is the third time military aircraft have attacked RSF sites in Nyala. On September 13, they bombed about seven sites, including the Malja market, the airport neighbourhood, and Riyadh, killing at least 40 civilians.