The Sudanese Armed Forces and allied joint forces have recaptured the strategic area of Bir Umm Saliba in West Darfur, tightening pressure on the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) as fighting intensifies around El Geneina.

The joint force said it had regained control of Bir Umm Saliba, located about 30 kilometers north of El Geneina, following heavy clashes with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Strategic advance in West Darfur

The recapture of the area is expected to increase pressure on the RSF's positions around El Geneina, one of the group's last major strongholds in West Darfur.

Joint force spokesperson Maj. Mutawakkil Ali Wakil Abu Quha said the operation forms part of a broader military strategy aimed at restricting the RSF's mobility and disrupting its supply routes in the region.

He added that the joint forces were continuing their advance toward El Geneina through the Jebel Moon axis and described the earlier withdrawal from Kulbus as a tactical redeployment.

Abu Quha also claimed that Sudanese military drones destroyed around 20 RSF military vehicles during the operation and said the ultimate objective was to restore government control across the Darfur region.

Supply routes targeted

Military sources said Bir Umm Saliba had served as a key logistics and troop transit point for the RSF.

Its capture is expected to weaken the group's supply lines, pave the way for future operations around El Geneina, and help secure the border corridor with Chad.

Humanitarian crisis deepens

Human rights activist Hamdi Osman alleged that RSF fighters committed serious abuses against civilians after the joint forces withdrew from Kulbus.

He claimed that homes were burned, property was looted, and numerous young people were killed, forcing thousands of civilians to flee across the border into Chad.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on July 2 that about 6,000 people had been displaced from Kulbus and nearby villages, describing the security situation as highly volatile.

Displacement at Chad border

Local sources said 70 to 80 families, mostly women and children, continue to arrive each day at displacement camps in eastern Chad.

Aid agencies warned that many displaced people face severe shortages of food, clean water, and shelter, with some reportedly surviving on tree leaves and unsafe water.

RSF reportedly preparing counteroffensive

Field sources said the RSF has deployed additional military vehicles and armored units from Saraf Umra and Kabkabiya toward the El Geneina area.

The joint forces, meanwhile, said they are expanding operations around Bir Umm Saliba to consolidate their gains and strengthen control over the border region.

Military observers say the latest offensive marks the return of large-scale ground fighting in Darfur after nearly eight months, with the battle for El Geneina expected to play a decisive role in shaping the balance of power in western Sudan. (ILKHA)