Deep Dive: Sudan Doctors Network reports 28 civilians killed, 39 injured in RSF attack on Al-Mustriha town

Sudan's civil war, erupting in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commanded by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), has devastated the country, with Al-Mustriha town in North Darfur exemplifying the relentless violence against civilians. The RSF, evolved from Darfur's Janjaweed militias, seeks to consolidate power and economic control over gold mines and trade routes, while the SAF aims to maintain central authority; this attack underscores the RSF's strategy of territorial dominance in Darfur, a region scarred by genocide in the 2000s where Arab nomadic groups clashed with non-Arab farmers over resources amid climate-induced scarcity. Geopolitically, the conflict draws in external actors like the United Arab Emirates (UAE), accused of arming the RSF for access to Sudan's minerals, Egypt backing the SAF for Nile water security, and Russia via Wagner Group mercenaries eyeing gold. Culturally, Darfur's diverse ethnic tapestry—Fur, Zaghawa, and Masalit peoples versus RSF-aligned Arab tribes—fuels atrocities, with Al-Mustriha's assault reflecting RSF tactics of intimidation to ethnically cleanse areas. The Sudan Doctors Network (SDN), an independent volunteer group, provides vital casualty data amid restricted access for international monitors. Cross-border implications ripple through the Sahel: over 2 million Sudanese refugees strain Chad and South Sudan, exacerbating famine risks, while Red Sea shipping disruptions from Port Sudan clashes affect global trade. Humanitarian crises intensify, with 25 million facing acute hunger; Western aid groups like MSF face attacks, complicating delivery. Long-term, RSF gains in Darfur could fragment Sudan, inviting jihadist infiltration from unstable neighbors, while failed peace talks in Jeddah highlight diplomatic fatigue among IGAD and AU mediators. The outlook remains grim without unified international pressure; China's neutral stance preserves oil interests, but U.S.-EU sanctions on RSF may falter against Gulf funding. This incident in Al-Mustriha signals escalating RSF impunity, potentially prolonging the war beyond two years and deepening Sudan's societal fractures.