Fighting in North Darfur has reached alarming levels, with the United Nations’ migration agency reporting that approximately 15,000 households have been displaced from the town of Al-Malha within just 48 hours due to escalating clashes. The violence between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese army, along with its allied militias, forced families to flee primarily to other locations within the region, as stated by the International Organization for Migration.
The ongoing conflict, which has gripped Sudan since April 2023, has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands and the displacement of over 12 million people, making it one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world today. In North Darfur alone, nearly 1.7 million people are currently uprooted from their homes, while around two million face extreme food insecurity, as highlighted by United Nations figures.
The RSF claimed that they have successfully taken control of Al-Malha, which is situated at the foot of a mountainous area approximately 200 kilometers northeast of El-Fasher, the North Darfur state capital. Activists have reported that at least 45 civilians lost their lives during this latest bout of violence, while the RSF announced in a statement that they had “encircled the enemy,” claiming more than 380 casualties on the opposing side during the takeover of Al-Malha.
This town, one of the northernmost urban centers in the vast desert region between Sudan and Libya, has become a focal point for the ongoing struggles between the RSF and a coalition of armed groups allied with the Sudanese army, known as the Joint Forces. El-Fasher remains the only state capital still under army control, and news has emerged that the military recaptured the presidential palace in Khartoum—a notable distance of around 800 kilometers from the conflict in Darfur—earlier this week.
While there have been some recent gains by the army in central Sudan, analysts indicate that the RSF is intent on solidifying its power in Darfur, a region already ravaged by conflict and instability. The Joint Forces have been effective in intercepting vital supply lines from neighboring Chad and Libya for months, further complicating the humanitarian situation.
Moreover, North Darfur is grappling with one of Sudan’s most severe mass starvation crises. Famine has been declared in three displacement camps around El-Fasher, with United Nations projections suggesting that it could spread to five more areas, including the state capital itself, by May. As the conflict continues to deepen, millions remain in desperate need of humanitarian assistance, facing overwhelming challenges amidst a collapsing infrastructure and ongoing violence.
