Sudanese paramilitary forces involved in an ongoing conflict with the nation’s military forces over the past two years have declared their control over an essential region along the borders shared with Egypt and Libya.
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) made a statement on Wednesday asserting their successful capture of the triangular area, thereby solidifying their influence over Sudan’s already tense frontier adjacent to the tumultuous situation in Libya.
Earlier, the military had announced its withdrawal from the area, describing the action as part of their strategy to counter the RSF’s alleged aggressions.
On the preceding day, the Sudanese military accused troops aligned with powerful Libyan commander Khalifa Hifter of aiding the RSF’s assault in this border region, describing it as “an open attack on Sudan, its territory, and its citizens.” However, forces under Hifter’s command, which dominate Libya’s eastern and southern regions, denied these accusations entirely. They issued a statement describing Sudan’s allegations as a clear effort to divert attention from its internal strife by crafting a fictional foreign adversary.
This recent confrontation represents another development in Sudan’s civil conflict that ignited in April 2023 stemming from escalating tensions between Sudan’s military and the RSF which initially erupted in fierce street combat in Khartoum and rapidly diffused across Sudan.
The ongoing warfare has claimed the lives of at least 24,000 individuals, though actual figures may be significantly higher. It has forced approximately 13 million people to flee their homes, with around 4 million seeking refuge in neighboring countries. This turmoil has culminated in the most severe humanitarian crisis globally, plunging certain areas into famine.
The relentless violence has been marred by severe human rights abuses, including mass rapes and ethnic-based killings that have been classified as war crimes and crimes against humanity, particularly in the Darfur region, according to reports from the United Nations and other international human rights organizations.