Africa Insight
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Security - 13 August 2026

Army-Aligned Forces And RSF Contest Amburu In North Darfur

By Amina Kabasele2 min read

Amburu, August 13, 2026 - The Sudanese Joint Force allied with the national army announced that it had recaptured Amburu in North Darfur, while the Rapid Support Forces denied the loss and said they had repelled the assault. The Joint Force said its units launched an operation that took Amburu and nearby areas, causing significant losses to RSF fighters.

The RSF countered that it had defeated the attack and captured dozens of combat vehicles along with weapons and ammunition. The battle forms part of a wider escalation across Sudan, including clashes near Chad in West Darfur and fighting in North Kordofan. Amburu and surrounding areas have been repeatedly affected by attacks, village burnings and displacement, particularly in communities linked to the Zaghawa ethnic group.

Control of Amburu matters because it sits within a broader operational zone linking North Darfur, West Darfur and the Chadian border. Continued fighting threatens humanitarian access, cross-border stability and the ability of any side to secure supply routes in western Sudan.

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