RSF CLAIMS AMBUSH BY ISLAMIST-LINKED FORCES IN WEST KORDOFAN.
BY NKOKI KARANJA
1 December 2025, Khartoum.
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) reported on Monday that its units in the town of Babnousa, located in Sudan’s West Kordofan State, came under what it described as a “treacherous attack” by forces it calls the “Islamic Movement Army” and allied militias.
In a statement, the RSF said its fighters “had no choice but to exercise the legitimate right of self-defense,” asserting that they repelled the assault. The group reiterated its commitment to the unilateral humanitarian truce it previously announced, but accused its opponents of exploiting the ceasefire to carry out repeated attacks on towns and villages.
According to the RSF, these alleged operations have resulted in hundreds of civilian casualties and have hindered the flow of humanitarian aid. The statement called on the Quad countries and international and regional organizations to condemn what it described as ongoing violations, referencing a recent attack in the Kamo area of South Kordofan that the RSF claims left more than 46 students dead and many others injured.
The RSF framed its actions as defensive, saying that “protecting civilians and self-defense are rights guaranteed under international law.”
Independent verification of the claims made in the statement was not immediately available, and no response had yet been issued by the Sudanese Armed Forces or groups affiliated with the Islamic Movement at the time of publication.
The conflict between the RSF and the Sudanese Army, which erupted in April 2023, continues to fuel widespread displacement, civilian casualties, and a deepening humanitarian crisis across several Sudanese states.
