Located on the road to the border triangle between Sudan, Egypt, Libya, and Chad, according to the Darfur Regional Authorities, with no immediate comment from the Rapid Support Forces.
On Sunday, the authorities of Sudan’s Darfur region announced that the army had regained control over the strategic area of Al-‘Atrun from the grip of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in North Darfur State (west).
Darfur Regional Governor Minni Arko Minnawi stated in a Facebook post: “The Sudanese Armed Forces and the Joint Forces (of the armed movements) are achieving great victories by liberating the strategic area of Al-‘Atrun from the grip of the terrorist Rapid Support militia.”
For its part, the Joint Forces of the Armed Movements said in a statement: “We proudly and honorably announce the liberation of the strategic area of Al-‘Atrun in the desert of North Darfur from the grip of the Rapid Support militias.”
The statement added: “This great achievement was the result of a precise and coordinated military operation carried out by our forces in cooperation with the Sudanese Armed Forces, inflicting heavy losses on the enemy in lives and equipment.”
As of 15:50 GMT, there has been no comment from the Rapid Support Forces regarding the statement by the Darfur governor.
The Al-‘Atrun area enjoys a strategic location, as it lies in the far north of North Darfur State, on a vital road linking the Northern State and North Darfur, and extends toward the border triangle that connects Sudan with Egypt, Libya, and Chad.
On April 9, the Rapid Support Forces announced their seizure of Al-‘Atrun after clashes with the army and the Joint Forces.
Since mid-April 2023, the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces have been waging a war that has left more than 20,000 dead and about 15 million displaced and refugees, according to the United Nations and local authorities, while a study by American universities estimated the death toll at about 130,000.
In recent weeks, and at an accelerating pace, the areas under RSF control in Sudan’s states have been shrinking in favor of the army, with the latter’s victories extending in the capital Khartoum to include control over the presidential palace, ministry headquarters in its vicinity, the airport, and security and military sites.
In the other 17 states of Sudan, the RSF now controls only parts of North Kordofan and West Kordofan states, and pockets in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states, in addition to 4 of the Darfur region’s states
