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Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces Seize Al-Fula, West Kordofan Capital

Sudanese families prepare to ride on trucks while on their way to Egypt through the Qustul border, after the crisis in Sudan's capital Khartoum, in the Sudanese city of Wadi Halfa, Sudan May 1, 2023. (Reuters)
Sudanese families prepare to ride on trucks while on their way to Egypt through the Qustul border, after the crisis in Sudan's capital Khartoum, in the Sudanese city of Wadi Halfa, Sudan May 1, 2023. (Reuters)
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Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces Seize Al-Fula, West Kordofan Capital

Sudanese families prepare to ride on trucks while on their way to Egypt through the Qustul border, after the crisis in Sudan's capital Khartoum, in the Sudanese city of Wadi Halfa, Sudan May 1, 2023. (Reuters)
Sudanese families prepare to ride on trucks while on their way to Egypt through the Qustul border, after the crisis in Sudan's capital Khartoum, in the Sudanese city of Wadi Halfa, Sudan May 1, 2023. (Reuters)

Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) announced on Thursday that they have fully captured the strategic city of Al-Fula, the capital of West Kordofan state.

The RSF shared videos of their leaders speaking from the local government headquarters, confirming the takeover.

Local sources said the RSF attacked Al-Fula, leading to fierce clashes with the Sudanese army at the military garrison. Dozens were killed, but the exact number of civilian and military casualties is still unclear.

West Kordofan is strategically important due to its large oil fields. Controlling Al-Fula gives the RSF a significant advantage for future attacks in the state and secures supply routes through Darfur.

The city is also crucial because oil pipelines from South Sudan pass through it for export via the Red Sea.

The RSF announced on its official X account: “Our forces have liberated the brigade of the 22nd Division in Babnusa (another town in West Kordofan) from Burhan’s terrorist militia (referring to Sudanese army leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan).”

The Sudanese army has not responded.

In response to the fall of Al-Fula, the West Kordofan state government urged all “mobilized forces and popular resistance” to prepare for a decisive battle to expel the “rebel militia (RSF)” from the state.

The government condemned the RSF’s attack and the looting of markets and civilian areas.

It noted that Al-Fula is home to thousands of civilians who have fled other parts of the state due to militia attacks, calling these actions a violation of international law.

The Babnusa Emergency Room reported that Al-Fula has received thousands of people fleeing the ongoing conflict in recent months.

RSF commanders had previously threatened to overrun the city and warned army forces and officials to leave.

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Arab World

Jordanian Sources Confirm Policies to ‘Contain’ Muslim Brotherhood are No Longer Viable

Members of Jordanian security forces stand outside an office of the “Islamic Action Front” in Amman on Wednesday (Reuters)
Members of Jordanian security forces stand outside an office of the “Islamic Action Front” in Amman on Wednesday (Reuters)
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Jordanian Sources Confirm Policies to ‘Contain’ Muslim Brotherhood are No Longer Viable

Members of Jordanian security forces stand outside an office of the “Islamic Action Front” in Amman on Wednesday (Reuters)
Members of Jordanian security forces stand outside an office of the “Islamic Action Front” in Amman on Wednesday (Reuters)

Following official decisions to dissolve and ban the Muslim Brotherhood, senior Jordanian sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that "the policies previously adopted by governments and security officials to ‘contain or appease’ the Islamic movement (the Brotherhood and the Islamic Action Front) are no longer under consideration.”

On Wednesday, the Jordanian government announced a ban on all activities related to the Brotherhood, declaring any associated actions as “illegal.” Security forces carried out raids on the group's premises, seizing its assets.

Sources linked the escalating stance against the Muslim Brotherhood to their refusal to condemn the cells looking to “stir chaos,” which security agencies uncovered last week.

Jordanian authorities have charged 16 detainees in the case with possession of explosives, weapons, and planning to produce drones.

According to the same sources, “the trial of the accused is expected to begin next week.”

In a statement on Wednesday, Jordan's Interior Minister Mazin Al-Farrayeh announced a ban on all activities of the Muslim Brotherhood, emphasizing that any activity linked to the group would be considered illegal.

Sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that “new investigations were launched after security forces seized documents, computer devices, and recordings from the Brotherhood’s and the Islamic Action Front’s offices, the political arm of the group.”

They added that “if any organizational links to the chaos plot are proven through the banned group, the Front will be held legally accountable, and the constitution and laws will be applied to dissolve any party attempting to carry out military activities within Jordan.”

Under official procedures against the Muslim Brotherhood, membership in the group has been declared illegal, and promoting its ideology is now prohibited. Authorities have also ordered the closure of any offices or premises used by the Brotherhood across the kingdom, even if shared with other entities.

Sources reiterated that “if investigations reveal any organizational links between the Brotherhood or the Islamic Action Front and the cell implicated in the ‘chaos plot,’ the provisions for dissolving the party under the constitution and the relevant political party law will be enforced.”

Sources also disclosed to Asharq Al-Awsat that “security authorities are targeting social media accounts managed from abroad, which have been spreading false rumors and information designed to incite unrest and deepen divisions among Jordanians based on their origins and backgrounds.”

They confirmed that the investigation into these accounts revealed connections to “elements linked to the Brotherhood.” On Thursday, security forces carried out arrests targeting these individuals.