Sudan RSF Seize Strategic Border Zone with Egypt, Libya as Army Withdraws

Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have seized control of a strategic border area, known as the triangle zone, which lies at the intersection of Sudan, Egypt, and Libya, following the withdrawal of regular Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) from the region. The SAF accused forces loyal to Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar of collaborating with the RSF in a cross-border attack, marking the first direct involvement of Libyan troops in Sudan's civil war. The RSF claimed the area is vital for trade, transport, and natural resources, and that their control over it strengthens their strategic position amid ongoing conflict with the SAF. The Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused the United Arab Emirates of backing the assault, describing it as a dangerous escalation and part of a broader foreign conspiracy. This conflict, ongoing since April 2023, has divided Sudan between the army and paramilitary factions, causing massive casualties and displacement, with international efforts to mediate the war so far unsuccessful. Fighting continues to intensify in regions like Darfur and Kordofan, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis labeled by the United Nations as the world's worst.