RSF claims recapture of key base in Zurg

December 22, 2024 (EL FASHER) – The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) claimed on Sunday to have retaken control of the strategic town of Zurg in North Darfur state, a day after the Joint Force of armed struggle movements announced its capture.

On Saturday, both the governor of Darfur, Mini Arko Minawi, and army spokesman Brigadier General Nabil Abdallah announced that the Joint Force had seized Zurg, a key RSF base, after five hours of intense fighting.

However, an RSF spokesman said in a statement that their forces had “liberated” Zurg early Sunday morning, expelling what he called “aggressors.” He accused the Joint Force of “ethnic cleansing” against civilians in the area, alleging the killing of “children, women, and the elderly” and the destruction of civilian infrastructure.

Both sides released video footage purporting to show their presence in Zurg. The RSF shared clips of their troops in the town, while the Joint Force released videos of its fighters with captured military vehicles.

In a statement on Sunday, the Joint Force’s media committee dismissed the RSF claims as “baseless lies”. It said the attack on Zurg was based on intelligence indicating the presence of “weapons of mass destruction and other modern and sophisticated weapons aimed at bringing down El Fasher.”

It further denied targeting civilians, stating there were none present in the military base. He accused the RSF of a “culture of assault and violations against civilians,” citing alleged attacks on displacement camps and residential areas.

A Joint Force officer announced in a video released on Sunday that their forces had completely incinerated the Zurg area. Standing before a backdrop of flames, the officer declared their intention to advance through other Darfur states until El Geneina of West Darfur state.

Zurg, located in a remote tri-border area between Sudan, Chad, and Libya, has been a significant RSF base since 2017. The RSF has invested in infrastructure projects in the town, including schools, hospitals, and an airport. Since the war began in April 2023, Zurg has been a key logistical hub for receiving supplies reportedly delivered by the UAE via Chad and Libya. The town has been subjected to multiple airstrikes by the Sudanese army.