Medical officials in Sudan report that deadly violence has claimed the lives of at least 28 people following an assault by paramilitary forces on a town in the country’s troubled Darfur region.
According to the Sudan Doctors Network, which monitors the nation’s continuing conflict, the Rapid Support Forces conducted a devastating raid on Monday in the town of Misteriha, located in North Darfur province.
The targeted community serves as a base of operations for Arab tribal leader Musa Hilal, who shares tribal connections with many RSF members as both belong to the Rizeigat Arab tribe.
Medical authorities report that 39 additional people sustained injuries during the violence, with 10 of the wounded being women.
The current conflict in Sudan began in 2023 when rising tensions between the nation’s military and the competing RSF broke into open warfare that started in the capital city of Khartoum before expanding across the country. The fighting has resulted in thousands of deaths, massive population displacement, disease outbreaks, and critical food shortages, with humanitarian workers often becoming targets.
The medical organization reported that RSF artillery strikes damaged the town’s medical facility on Monday, followed by physical attacks on healthcare workers and the detention of at least one staff member. The paramilitary group initiated their campaign against the town during the weekend using drone attacks that struck Hilal’s guest facility. Monday saw the launch of a comprehensive ground assault that resulted in the town’s capture.
The takeover of Misteriha strengthens RSF dominance throughout the Darfur region, though it threatens to intensify tribal conflicts in an area with a long history of violence and warfare.
