Sudan War: Conflicting Claims of Control over Strategic Town on Chad Border
The strategic border town of Al-Tina in North Darfur state has become a central battleground for the warring parties in Sudan, as both sides claim control.
Shortly after the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) claimed it had seized the town on Saturday, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and its allied Joint Forces said they had repelled an attack by the paramilitary group.
RSF Offensive
The RSF said on Saturday it had took control of the strategic border town of Al-Tina in North Darfur state – the last stronghold of the SAF and its allied Joint Forces.
“The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) managed to successfully establish full control over the strategic border town of Al-Tina in North Darfur state, and, in turn, effectively liberated the town” from the remnants of the Sudanese army and their allies, the paramilitary group said in a statement.
Moreover, the RSF posted a video footage on Telegram showing some of its fighters celebrating the seizure of the town under a banner carrying the sign “District of Al-Tina.”
Al-Tina Strategic Importance
Located on the borders between Sudan and Chad, Al-Tina is strategically important, serving as a critical humanitarian corridor – often the only viable route for UN and MSF aid convoys to reach millions facing famine in North Darfur, particularly following the fall of El-Fasher to the RSF in late 2025.
The town remains one of the last major border crossings between Sudan and Chad still contested by both warring parties, making it a high-stakes gateway for controlling the flow of goods into the Darfur region.
Furthermore, Al-Tina is a “twin town,” divided into Sudanese and Chadian halves. The Zaghawa community constitutes the primary population and the main components and support base of the SAF-aligned Joint Forces.
Consequently, any military escalation in the border town risks further regional repercussions amid ongoing security tensions in the Darfur region.
SAF Counteroffensive
The SAF and allied Joint Forces announced on Saturday they had repelled an RSF attack on Al-Tina. In a series of posts on Facebook, the Coordination of Resistance Committees in El-Fasher said that the RSF fighters fled Al-Tina after clashes with the Sudanese army and the Joint Forces.
Following an RSF surprise attack on army and Joint Forces positions in Al-Tina, the SAF and Joint Forces launched a counteroffensive, regaining control over the town and inflicting heavy losses on the paramilitary group, sources told the Sudan Tribune.
Meanwhile, the Darfur Region Governor, Minni Arko Minawi, shared videos on social media reportedly showing Joint Forces seizing RSF vehicles and weapons in Al-Tina.
Criminal Behavior
Minawi denounced the RSF’s “criminal behavior,” accusing the paramilitary group of targeting defenseless civilians on an ethnic and racial basis.
“What occurred today in the western city of Al-Tina clearly confirms this militia’s premeditated intent to displace specific tribes from the Darfur region and impose a new demographic reality through force and arms,” he posted on Facebook.
RSF Genocidal Acts
The RSF faces mounting accusations of systematic human rights abuses, including targeted killings and the displacement of civilians based on their ethnic identity.
A recent report by a UN fact-finding mission found that the RSF committed acts of genocide in El-Fasher city, by carrying out a “coordinated campaign of destruction against non-Arab communities in and around El-Fasher,” specifically the Zaghawa and Fur.
The report also said that the RSF’s systematic pattern of ethnically targeted killings, sexual violence, destruction, and public statements explicitly calling for the elimination of non-Arab communities confirms their genocidal intent.
Another report published by the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) concluded that the RSF committed “widespread atrocities that amount to war crimes and possible crimes against humanity” during its takeover of El-Fasher, the capital city of North Darfur state.
The war in Sudan, which broke out in April 2023 between the SAF and RSF, triggered the world’s largest humanitarian and displacement crisis, killing thousands and displacing over 15 million people within Sudan and across neighboring countries. It has also pushed parts of the country into famine amid cholera outbreaks.
