Sudanese army and allies counterattack RSF, recapture Abu Qumra

EL FASHER – Sudanese army-allied forces recaptured Abu Qumra town in North Darfur on Saturday in a counteroffensive against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), as fighting intensified across the Daar Zaghawa region following the paramilitary group’s seizure of Um Baru.

The Joint Force, a coalition of Darfur armed groups fighting alongside the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), advanced into Abu Qumra from the direction of Jebel Moon, also known as Jebel Misseriya, in neighbouring West Darfur State.

Videos reviewed and geolocated by Sudans Post show Joint Force fighters inside the town, including at Abu Qumra market, providing evidence that the coalition had taken control of the area following the offensive.

In one video filmed at the market, located at approximately 14°19’19.05″N, 23°24’20.95″E, a fighter said the footage was recorded on June 27 and declared that there were no RSF fighters remaining in the town.

The footage shows the presence of Joint Force fighters in Abu Qumra, although it remains unclear whether the coalition has secured the surrounding areas or how long it will be able to maintain control.

Abu Qumra is located in Kornoi locality near the border with Al Serief locality, an area that has witnessed repeated fighting between RSF fighters and army-allied forces.

The counteroffensive came as the RSF continued its military campaign in Daar Zaghawa, where its fighters captured Um Baru town on Friday after advancing from Abu Liha’a to the south.

The Joint Force operation appeared intended to strike RSF positions away from the main fighting around Um Baru, rather than directly confronting the paramilitary group’s advancing columns.

By advancing from the direction of Jebel Moon, Joint Force fighters were able to attack Abu Qumra from the west, potentially disrupting RSF operations in the area.

The operation reflects tactics previously used by Darfur armed movements, whose fighters have often relied on mobility and surprise attacks to strike opposing forces across remote areas.

However, it remains unclear whether the recapture of Abu Qumra will affect the RSF’s ongoing offensive around Um Baru or lead to further fighting in neighbouring localities.

The RSF has launched repeated attacks against Joint Force positions in Um Baru, Kornoi and Tina localities as part of its efforts to extend control over the remaining areas of northern Darfur outside its authority.

The region, commonly known as Daar Zaghawa (Home of Zaghawa), has historically served as a stronghold of armed movements drawn largely from the Zaghawa community, including the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and the Sudan Liberation Army faction led by Darfur Governor Minni Arko Minnawi.

Since capturing El Fasher in October 2025, the RSF has established control over much of Darfur, including all five state capitals, but has continued to face resistance from army-allied forces in parts of the northwestern region.

The latest fighting comes as the Joint Force faces growing pressure to defend its remaining positions in Darfur while also supporting Sudanese army operations against the RSF in other parts of the country.

Despite the recapture of Abu Qumra, the situation remains uncertain, with communications disruptions and limited access to the affected areas making it difficult to independently establish the full extent of the fighting.

The clashes underline the continued struggle for control of Daar Zaghawa, one of the last remaining areas of Darfur where army-allied forces maintain a significant military presence.