Sudan’s RSF seizes Um Baru as fighting intensifies in Daar Zaghawa

EL FASHER – Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) captured Um Baru town in North Darfur on Wednesday after launching a fresh offensive against army-allied forces in the Daar Zaghawa region, opening another front in one of the last areas of Darfur outside its control.

The town fell on Wednesday afternoon following an advance by RSF fighters from Abu Liha’a, a settlement south of Um Baru, dealing a setback to the Joint Force, a coalition of armed groups allied with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).

Videos reviewed and geolocated by Sudans Post show RSF fighters inside Um Baru town, confirming the paramilitary group’s presence following the assault. The footage indicates that government-aligned forces had lost control of the town.

The capture marks a further expansion of RSF operations in Daar Zaghawa, a region encompassing parts of northern and northwestern Darfur where armed groups opposed to the paramilitary force have maintained a significant military presence despite the fall of El Fasher.

Fighting also erupted farther east near Arari village in eastern Um Baru locality, where another RSF column advanced from the direction of Kutum.

Local sources said Joint Force fighters repelled the attack on Arari, preventing the paramilitary group from extending its advance into the village. Videos reviewed by Sudans Post were consistent with reports of fighting in the area, although the full extent of the clashes could not be independently established.

The latest offensive appeared to involve separate RSF advances targeting positions held by the Joint Force across Um Baru locality, suggesting an effort to weaken the coalition’s remaining defensive positions in northern Darfur.

Communications disruptions and a near-total network blackout in the area have complicated efforts to determine casualties and establish the precise positions of the rival forces.

There were no immediately available casualty figures, and neither the RSF nor the Sudanese army had issued an official statement on the latest fighting.

The RSF has repeatedly attempted to expand its control into the localities of Um Baru, Kornoi and Tina, which form part of the Daar Zaghawa region along Sudan’s border with Chad and Libya.

The area has remained a stronghold of armed groups affiliated with the Joint Force, whose fighters have resisted successive RSF offensives despite the paramilitary group’s expansion across much of Darfur.

The RSF has intensified its efforts to consolidate control over the western region following the capture of El Fasher, the former last major army stronghold in Darfur, in October 2025.

However, the paramilitary group has struggled to establish lasting control over parts of Daar Zaghawa, where local armed resistance, established military networks and difficult terrain have complicated its operations.

The latest developments raise concerns about further fighting across the remaining Joint Force-held territories, particularly Kornoi and Tina, as the RSF seeks to eliminate pockets of resistance in the region.

Um Baru, Kornoi and Tina in North Darfur, together with Kulbus locality in neighbouring West Darfur, constitute the last significant areas of Darfur where the Joint Force and other army-aligned groups retain territorial control.

The loss of Um Baru town could increase pressure on those positions, although it remains unclear whether RSF fighters will be able to consolidate their gains or face a counteroffensive by Joint Force troops.