Darfur follow up: Elgeneina
Communications networks from the city of El Geneina, the capital of West Darfur State, were cut off from service this Wednesday evening as a result of clashes and mutual shelling between the Sudanese army forces and the Rapid Support Forces in the vicinity of the 15th Infantry Division command in El Geneina.
Strong explosions were heard in the early hours of Wednesday morning, which extended for long periods in which all types of heavy weapons were used, leaving civilians dead and wounded.
A large number of Ardamta citizens, northeast of El Geneina, fled to the city center since yesterday morning after the Rapid Support Forces deployed in the city with the aim of taking control of the command of the 15th Infantry Division, El Geneina.
According to a military source, the Rapid Support Forces gave the division command in El Geneina until four in the afternoon to hand over command, while a large portion of the soldiers withdrew from within the command and fled to the city center. Negotiations have been taking place since yesterday in an attempt to avoid confrontations between the army and the Rapid Support Forces and hand over command to the latter without losses. However, the army is still adhering to its decision not to surrender.
The same source added that the army demanded guarantees of a safe exit for its forces, while the Arab tribes demanded that they hand over the commander of the Military Intelligence Division of the 15th Infantry Division, and that even if the command was handed over to the Rapid Support, they did not leave him alive because he caused the killing of many of them, according to their account.
This is considered the first military confrontation between the army and the Rapid Support Forces in the city of El Geneina since the beginning of the April 15 war.
