Military Escalation in North Darfur: Rapid Support Forces Surround the Birthplace of Musa Hilal

The Rapid Support Forces have intensified their military presence around the town of Mersha, in North Darfur, the birthplace of Sheikh Musa Hilal, following an attack on him by drones, amid accusations from the Sudanese Revolutionary Awakening Council of an assassination attempt.

Wide Reinforcements and Army Alert

About 60 vehicles from the Kurma area in North Darfur and 55 combat vehicles from the city of Nyala, in addition to 140 vehicles that arrived from the Malamat area, have been sent to support the Rapid Support Forces. At the same time, the Sudanese army provided air cover with drones to deal with any hostile movements.

Statements from Musa Hilal

Hilal described the Rapid Support Forces as "the gang and mercenary militia," affirming his full support for the Sudanese Armed Forces and its commander-in-chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and accused the deputy commander of the Rapid Support Forces, Abdel Rahim Dagalo, of attempting to dismantle the Mahamid tribe by sowing discord and supporting divisions with money and weapons.

Political Background of Hilal

Hilal emerged as a tribal leader during the Darfur War and was placed on the UN sanctions list in 2006. He then held government positions before founding the Revolutionary Awakening Council in 2014, later entering into conflicts with the government and the leadership of the Rapid Support Forces.

The recent developments reflect a serious escalation in relations between Musa Hilal and the Rapid Support Forces, amid fears of an expansion of the military conflict in the region.