Deadly infighting erupts among RSF soldiers in Nyala
Merchants report extortion and robbery as security deteriorates in city
Eyewitnesses in Nyala, South Darfur, reported that clashes erupted between two groups of Rapid Support Forces (RSF) soldiers, killing and injuring 16 people, including a merchant, in the area of the Geneina bus station market.
The conflict erupted on the evening of March 5, 2025, after RSF soldiers under a captain's command stationed at a checkpoint allegedly robbed the merchant of 250,000 Sudanese pounds.
When the merchant reported the theft to another RSF checkpoint, tensions escalated as this group confronted the perpetrators to retrieve the stolen money. The refusal to return the money led to a tense standoff.
A soldier then detonated a hand grenade, killing three people instantly and injuring several others, including the captain and his brother, both of whom later died. Clashes resumed the following morning, leading to further casualties.
The violence disrupted business, with citizens barred from the market in the morning, causing a partial shutdown. Witnesses reported widespread looting, including sacks of sugar and stolen cash.
Some RSF members later threatened merchants and residents, vowing to attack the market again after the funeral of their fallen commander. The area has seen increased instability due to the unchecked presence of RSF forces.
This internal conflict within the RSF highlights fractures in the paramilitary, poor discipline, and possibly low morale.
Capital Flight from South Darfur Due to RSF Extortion
Meanwhile, many traders and business owners have fled Nyala due to extortion and harassment by RSF members.
A source, who requested anonymity, detailed one case in which RSF members targeted a trader, on the pretext that he was spying for the army. RSF personnel arrived at the trader’s residence in the Kongo neighborhood and presented a legal summons. He was then taken to an unknown location and released three days later after paying a bribe of 900,000 Sudanese pounds.
In another incident, a former RSF driver, who also requested anonymity, stated that three RSF soldiers filed a case against him on espionage charges. However, when they arrived at his store, they offered him a financial settlement to avoid arrest. When he refused, he was taken to an RSF detention facility and was only released after 14 days.
Two separate sources confirmed that RSF forces have been arresting traders and business owners at random, forcing their families to pay large sums of money for their release. A local photographer reported that an RSF unit arrested a trader in the southern Nyala popular market and initially demanded a payment of two million Sudanese pounds for his release. After negotiations, a settlement was reached for 300,000 Sudanese pounds.
No official response has been received from RSF leadership regarding these allegations.
Fire Destroys 70 Homes in South Darfur Displacement Camp
A massive fire at the Sakali displacement camp, 5 km south of Nyala, destroyed over 70 homes. The camp houses 30,000 displaced people from various localities.
Local leader Mohamed Al-Hadi Adam reported that the fire began after a displaced person was killed, prompting assailants to torch the house where the killing took place. The fire quickly spread, consuming large parts of the camp.
The blaze caused significant losses, destroying food supplies like millet and peanuts, killing livestock, and burning carts and personal belongings. A committee has been formed to assess the damages.