Ankara:Sudan's Joint Force of Armed Movements announced that they, along with the national army, have seized control of the Bir Sleiba area in West Darfur State. This development followed intense clashes with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

According to Anadolu Agency, The Joint Force is a coalition of armed movements that signed a peace agreement with the Sudanese government in 2020. It includes major groups such as the Justice and Equality Movement, led by Jibril Ibrahim, and the Sudan Liberation Movement, under Darfur regional governor Minni Minnawi.

In their statement, the Joint Force detailed that their troops, alongside army forces, engaged in fierce battles on Monday morning at the Bir Sleiba and Abu Suruj fronts, leading to the destruction of seven RSF combat vehicles and significant casualties within the RSF ranks. They reported liberating Bir Sleiba and strengthening their presence in the region.

Videos shared on social media by army and Joint Force personnel confirmed the capture of Bir Sleiba. The area is strategically significant, located along the northern route to El Geneina, the capital of West Darfur State, and is part of a network of critical roads.

The RSF has yet to comment on these developments. Bir Sleiba previously experienced heavy fighting in August, which led to the displacement of thousands, as reported by the International Organization for Migration.

Currently, the RSF controls five Darfur states, except for parts of North and West Darfur, which remain under army control. The army maintains control over most of Sudan's remaining 13 states, including Khartoum. The ongoing conflict, which began in April 2023 over military integration disputes, has resulted in a severe humanitarian crisis, with tens of thousands killed and 13 million displaced.