Army on the Outskirts of El Geneina as Mass Civilian Exodus to Chad Continues
El Geneina, the capital of West Darfur State, has moved to the brink of a decisive military confrontation as the Sudanese Armed Forces and allied forces advance toward the city’s outskirts, coinciding with a large-scale civilian exodus toward Chadian territory.
The developments come amid intensive military aircraft activity, with warplanes carrying out heavy airstrikes targeting military positions and sites belonging to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia inside the city, marking the first such strikes of this scale in El Geneina since the outbreak of the conflict in April 2023.
Thousands of civilians have fled in response to the rapidly escalating situation, causing severe congestion and overcrowding at the “Adre” border crossing with Chad, under extremely complex humanitarian conditions.
Field sources reported that Sudanese Air Force aircraft have been flying over El Geneina and its surrounding areas, conducting precise strikes on militia gatherings and positions. The strikes were described as the first of their kind in the area since the start of the war.
In a related development, the Coordination of Resistance Committees in El Fasher stated that the Sudanese Army and allied forces have made significant territorial gains and are now positioned very close to El Geneina, paving the way for a broader military operation aimed at fully retaking the capital of West Darfur State.
On the humanitarian front, the Adre border crossing between Sudan and Chad has witnessed a massive influx of people and severe congestion described as “overwhelming,” driven by panic and the large-scale displacement from the city as frontlines approach.
Due to rising demand and a shortage of transportation, local sources reported a record surge in transport costs, with the price of a single passenger journey from El Geneina to the border crossing reaching approximately 70,000 Sudanese pounds, creating a major obstacle for families fleeing the conflict.
On surrounding battlefronts, the Sudanese Army has been engaged for a second consecutive day in intense clashes at “zero distance” with Rapid Support Forces militia fighters in the strategic area of Jebel Moon.