Capture of Al-Fulah

Last updated
Capture of Al Fulah
Part of the Sudanese civil war (2023–present)
War in Sudan (2023).svg
Date19–20 June 2024 (1 day)
Location
Al-Fulah and West Kordofan, Sudan
Result

RSF victory

  • RSF captures Al Fulah on June 20. [1]
  • RSF later takes control over several more villages and areas in West Kordofan.
Belligerents
Insignia of the Sudanese Armed Forces.svg Sudanese Armed Forces Flag of the Rapid Support Forces (Sudan).png Rapid Support Forces
Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopian Mercenaries [2]
Commanders and leaders
UnknownFlag of the Rapid Support Forces (Sudan).png Salih Al-Foti
Units involved
Insignia of the Sudanese Armed Forces.svg 91st Infantry Brigade [3] [4] Unknown
Casualties and losses
Tens of detainees executed,
Several vehicles, weapons, and ammunition captured. [3] 		Unknown
Dozens of civilians killed and injured [5]
60% of the population flees. [3]

The Capture of Al-Fulah was the short siege and battle over the city of Al-Fulah, the capital of the West Kordofan state, which occurred between 19 June and 20 June 2024. The battle ended quickly with the RSF taking full control of the city by June 20, forcing the SAF units stationed there to retreat to Babanusa. [1] The battle also allowed the RSF to take control over several key towns and areas in West Kordofan, including the city of Al-Meiram.

Contents

Background

On April 15, 2023, RSF forces attacked SAF units and took control of various areas around Sudan, including in that capital of Khartoum, beginning the Sudanese civil war. [6] The RSF's first incursions in to the West Kordofan state was on April 25 when they captured the town of Wad Banda. [7] In January 2024, the RSF launched on assault on the city of Babanusa. [8] This assault then turned into a siege, and displaced several thousands of people, many of whom sought refuge in Al-Fulah. [1]

The area was strategic since it was located near several oil fields and because oil pipelines from South Sudan ran through it. Previous to its capture, RSF commanders had threatened to overrun the city and warned SAF forces and army officials to leave. [5]

Events

On Wednesday June 19, The RSF besieged the SAF's 91st Infantry Brigade in the city of Al Fulah, setting up reinforcements outside for the city. [9] [3] The Misseriya tribe that was native to the area attempted to persuade the SAF into withdrawing from the city and the RSF from attacking but failed. [9] On July 20, the RSF led another assault, causing the SAF's 91 Infantry Brigade to retreat from the city and reposition themselves in Al-Udayyah, allowing the RSF to take control. [9]

Following its capture, citizens reported that the RSF had engaged in looting in several neighborhoods including Al-Salam, Al-Wahda, and Al-Daraja, causing many residents to flee to nearby cities like En Nahud and Al-Udayyah. As much as 60% of the city's population fled. [3] It was also reported that an unknown number of civilians had been killed and many more had also been injured in the initial assault. [10] The RSF made a post on Twitter congratulating commander Salih Al-Foti for the victory. [11] Videos also emerged showing RSF fighters executing tens of military detainees, as well as alleged Ethiopian mercenaries raising their country's flag in the city. [12] [2]

After Al-Fulah fell, the RSF began to take control over the rest of the West Kordofan area. On July 3, the RSF led an unsuccessful assault on the city of Al-Meiram. Although the SAF's 92nd Infantry Brigade was able to repel the initial assault, the units fled the city by July 4 to South Sudan. [9] This, a long with the losses from the 90th Infantry Brigade in Heglig and the El Muglad Garrison, effectively isolated the SAF's 22nd Division in Babanusa. [4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Sudan's RSF captures key army stronghold of el-Fula". Al Jazeera. 20 June 2024. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Sudanese authorities arrest Ethiopian female snipers". Sudan Tribune. 20 June 2024. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "RSF seizes El Fula, capital of West Kordofan, amidst reports of looting and displacement". Sudan Tribune. 20 June 2024. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  4. 1 2 "RSF capture Sudan army base in West Kordofan 'without struggle'". Dabanga Sudan. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  5. 1 2 "Sudan's Rapid Support Forces Seize Al-Fula, West Kordofan Capital". Asharq Al-Awsat. 21 June 2024. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  6. ↑ Sudan: clashes around the presidential palace, there are fears of a coup attempt in Khartoum – video Archived 15 April 2023 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ↑ "Sporadic gunfire in Sudan despite new truce". BBC. 25 April 2023. Archived from the original on 2023-04-24. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  8. ↑ Monitor, Sudan War. "Sudan army at risk of another disaster in Babanusa". sudanwarmonitor.com. Retrieved 2024-01-28.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "Sudan: The RSF marches on Sennar and West Kordofan". ACLED Data. 12 July 2024. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  10. ↑ "Sudan's RSF claims seizure of West Kordofan capital". Al Taghyeer news. 21 June 2024. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  11. ↑ "Sudan's RSF seizes control of El-Fula, West Kordofan's state capital, after bloody battle with army". New Arab. 21 June 2024. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  12. ↑ "Torture and murder – the horrors endured by military prisoners in Sudan's war". Ayin Network. 1 August 2024. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
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