The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) allegedly regained control of Zurg, a strategic town in North Darfur, on Sunday, following intense fighting with the Joint Force of armed resistance groups. This came a day after the Joint Force claimed to have captured the town, which has long been a key RSF base.
On Saturday, Darfur’s governor, Mini Arko Minawi, and army spokesperson Brigadier General Nabil Abdallah confirmed that the Joint Force had seized Zurg after five hours of fierce combat. However, the RSF countered on Sunday, alleging that their forces had “liberated” the town and expelled the Joint Force, which they referred to as “aggressors.” The RSF accused the opposing forces of committing war crimes, including the killing of civilians such as “children, women, and the elderly” and the destruction of civilian infrastructure.
According to Sudan Tribune, the two factions released conflicting video footage in support of their claims. The RSF showed clips of their troops in Zurg, while the Joint Force shared footage of military vehicles they had reportedly captured. The Joint Force’s media committee dismissed the RSF’s accusations as “falsehoods,” stating that their attack on Zurg was based on intelligence suggesting the presence of “weapons of mass destruction” and advanced military hardware, which they feared could be used to target El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur.
The Joint Force also denied targeting civilians, claiming that none were present in the military base at the time. Instead, they accused the RSF of a “culture of assault and violations,” citing alleged attacks on displacement camps and residential areas.
A Joint Force officer, in a video message released on Sunday, declared the complete destruction of Zurg and indicated plans to advance into other regions of Darfur, including a push towards El Geneina in West Darfur.
Zurg, located in a remote tri-border area between Sudan, Chad, and Libya, has been a significant RSF base since 2017. The RSF has invested heavily in the town’s infrastructure, building schools, hospitals, and an airport. Since the conflict began in April 2023, Zurg has also served as a crucial logistical hub, receiving supplies reportedly sent by the UAE via Chad and Libya. The Sudanese army has frequently targeted the town with airstrikes throughout the ongoing conflict.