RSF tightens grip on West Kordofan as group seizes control of Meiram

AWEIL – The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Saturday seized control of the strategic town of Meiram in Sudan’s West Kordofan state, tightening their grip on the state and displacing thousands of civilians.

The capture of Meiram, which borders South Sudan and the disputed Abyei area, marks another victory for the RSF in its ongoing conflict with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), the country’s traditional military.

A resident who has fled to Aweil North County in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State told Sudans Post that fighting erupted earlier last week in the villages around Meiram, with the frontline collapsing into the town on Saturday afternoon without serious fighting.

He said others like him from Meiram are seeking refuge in South Sudan and indicated that people were being prevented from leaving the town and were also attacked on the way by militias while en route to South Sudan.

“Most people of Meiram have fled to this place, but the road is not safe because people are being attacked along the way by the militias,” the IDP said on condition of anonymity, adding that “the [government of South Sudan] is providing them food.”

RSF sources claim a surprise attack with a highly mobile force of motorbikes overwhelmed the SAF garrison in Meiram. We geolocated a video posted on pro-RSF social media accounts to the center of Meiram in front of the SAF garrison.

While there was no evidence of fighting in the city, Hussein Barsham, a prominent RSF field commander in West Kordofan, is said to have led the attack on Meiram, one of the localities of Western Kordofan State.

It lies to the southwest of Sudan and borders the disputed Abyei Special Area, and Northern Bahr el Ghazal State in South Sudan.

SAF maintains its 22^nd Infantry Division in West Kordofan State. The division has three brigades, 90^th brigades in Heglig, 91^st in El Fula, the capital that was overran by the RSF on June 20, and 92^nd brigade bridge in Meiram.

SAF now only controls the headquarters of the 22^nd division in Babanusa and the 90^th Brigade in Heglig, along the border with Unity State.

The Meiram seizure is the latest in a series of RSF victories. On June 20, they captured the 462^nd Battalion garrison (of 91^st Brigade) in El-Fula. Meiram holds strategic importance due to its proximity to the South Sudan border.

The RSF takeover of Meiram is a part of an ongoing expansion in central and Eastern Sudan. This week, the paramilitary group seized control of the 17^th infantry division headquarters in Sinja, the capital of Sennar State.

It quickly took control of the division’s 165^th Brigade (artillery) and 67^th Brigade in south of the city.