What You Need to Know
Medical organizations have reported violent attacks by the Rapid Support Forces in Darfur, leading to the closure of a hospital and increased displacement among residents. The situation has escalated tensions along the Sudan-Chad border, prompting Chad to close its borders due to security concerns. Calls for the protection of healthcare workers and civilians have intensified amid ongoing violence.
Africa-Press. Doctors Without Borders announced on Tuesday that it has closed a hospital in the border town of Tine in eastern Chad due to attacks by the Rapid Support Forces on the Sudanese side of the border.
Tine is divided between two countries, with part of it located in North Darfur, Sudan, in the far west of the country, while the other part is in the Wadi Fira region of Chad. A small seasonal valley known as “Ab Sin” separates the two sides.
Over the past two days, the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces have clashed in Tine and its surroundings in western Sudan, where the latter is attempting to enter and strengthen its control over North Darfur.
Doctors Without Borders stated in a post on its Facebook account that it received reports of violent attacks carried out by the Rapid Support Forces on the town of Tine from the Sudanese side near the Chadian border on Saturday and Sunday, prompting it to close the hospital on the Chadian side and relocate its activities.
The statement noted that the organization has reduced the number of its staff in Tine on the Chadian side due to the deteriorating security situation, explaining that residents along the border have faced repeated attacks and displacement. The group also called for the protection of healthcare workers and patients “at any cost.”
Chad announced on Monday the closure of its borders with Sudan “until further notice,” citing what it described as “repeated incursions and violations by warring Sudanese forces within Chadian territory.”
This announcement came two days after the Sudanese army and allied joint forces in Darfur repelled an attack by the Rapid Support Forces on Tine.
The Rapid Support Forces acknowledged crossing into Chad and clashing with its forces but described the incident as “unintentional and a mistake.”
Rapid Support Forces Attack on a Village in North Darfur
In a related context, the Sudanese organization “Emergency Lawyers” accused the Rapid Support Forces on Tuesday of carrying out a bloody attack in the village of Mustariha in North Darfur, western Sudan.
The organization stated in a statement that “the Rapid Support Forces stormed the village of Mustariha on Monday and burned several houses in the village,” adding that “the raid was preceded by drone strikes on several sites, including a health center, a market, guest facilities, and residents’ homes, causing injuries and forcing dozens to flee.”
The organization described the attack as a “flagrant violation” of international humanitarian law and human rights, stating that “this attack adds to the ongoing record of violations in Darfur, which may constitute genocide and crimes against humanity, reflecting a systematic pattern of attacks on civilians and their property.”
The organization also called on the International Criminal Court to investigate the crimes committed in Darfur and to directly pursue those responsible to ensure the protection of civilians. Meanwhile, the Rapid Support Forces did not immediately comment on the accusations, although many of its members posted videos on social media claiming their control over Mustariha.
The conflict in Darfur has been ongoing since 2003, marked by violence between government forces and various rebel groups. The region has faced severe humanitarian crises, with millions displaced and numerous reports of human rights violations. The Rapid Support Forces, originally formed from militias, have been implicated in various atrocities, raising concerns about their actions and the need for international oversight.
