The specter of a bitter war in Darfur.. This is how the rival forces are distributed

Day by day, fears of slippage are mounting Darfur region in western Sudan He is in the midst of a civil and tribal war, after the spark of fighting that broke out two months ago between the army and the Rapid Support Forces spread to him.

Today, Friday, Al-Arabiya / Al-Hadath sources reported renewed fighting and clashes between the two military forces in the Nyala region, South Darfur.

It also indicated that shells fell in the vicinity of Nyala market, injuring a number of civilians.

Clashes in Nyala

In turn, the situation in the city of El Geneina, West Darfur state, is also still disastrous.

Sharing influence

The army forces led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces led by Muhammad Hamdan Dagalo share areas of influence in this region, which experienced bitter black years of fighting.

In El Geneina, the capital of West DarfurThe army controls the south, while the Rapid Support Forces are present in the east, north, and center of the city, including the market and the airport.

In Zalingei, the capital of Central Darfur, the army extends its control over the division and all areas west of the city.

Meanwhile, the Rapid Support Forces control the east of the city, including the airport and the market.

Nyala is bleeding

In Nyala, the capital of South Darfur state, which witnessed renewed clashes, the army is stationed in the south and west of the city, including the Mecca bridge, the market, some ministries, and vital areas.

As for the Rapid Support Forces, it controls the east and north of the city of Nyala, including some ministries, the airport and the power station.

Darfur (Shutterstock)

The armed forces also control the western city of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, as well as its northern neighborhoods, including the government secretariat, the airport and some ministries.

As for El Daein, the capital of East Darfur, the army is deployed outside the city at a distance of 5 kilometers, and is present at the southern entrances and the airport, which is located near it.

While the Rapid Support Forces are located north and west of the city and move within the market and neighborhoods.

Painful memories

It is noteworthy that since the outbreak of the conflict between the two military forces in mid-April (2023), fears have escalated of the situation in Darfur escalating, especially since the region has witnessed, during the past years, intermittent tribal clashes.

This vast region, which is inhabited by several Arab and African tribes, and is famous for agriculture, and its area is approximately equivalent to France, is full of painful memories of the devastating civil war that lasted for years, leaving thousands of dead, in addition to major massacres between the tribes, two decades ago.

Specter of civil war!

The conflict erupted in 2003 when a group of rebels stood up to the government forces backed by the Janjaweed militias, which were famous at the time for riding horses, and the violence led to the deaths of about 300,000 people and the displacement of millions.

Despite the many peace agreements, tension has continued since that time, like embers under the ashes, waiting for a spark to awaken it.

Violence has indeed escalated intermittently over the past two years before it calmed down relatively, only to flare up again following the conflict that erupted between the army and the Rapid Support Forces two months ago.

This infighting, which erupted between the two sides, fueled fears that this region would slip again into a fierce civil and tribal war.