EL GENEINA — A senior commander of Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Mahdi Jebel Moon, has been killed in heavy fighting with army-aligned Joint Forces north of El Geneina in West Darfur, according to reports confirmed by both sides.
The death of Jebel Moon represents another major setback for the RSF, which has been engaged in a prolonged conflict with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and allied groups since fighting erupted in April 2023.
Sources said the commander was killed during intense clashes in the area, where forces loyal to the Sudanese army and allied armed movements have been conducting operations against RSF positions. The fighting highlights the continuing struggle for control of strategic areas in Darfur, a region that has become one of the main battlegrounds of Sudan’s civil war.
The RSF has not yet provided detailed information about the circumstances of Jebel Moon’s death, but officials from both sides acknowledged the killing, adding significance to the loss of one of the group’s field commanders.
Jebel Moon was regarded as an influential RSF figure in West Darfur, where the paramilitary group has maintained a strong presence. His death could affect RSF command structures and operations in the region, particularly as battles continue over territory, supply routes, and strategic towns.
The conflict between the RSF and the Sudanese army has devastated Sudan, causing widespread displacement, a humanitarian crisis, and thousands of deaths. Darfur has witnessed some of the most intense violence, with communities caught between competing armed factions and facing severe shortages of food, healthcare, and security.
The latest development comes as both sides continue efforts to strengthen their positions on the battlefield, with no lasting political settlement yet reached to end the conflict.
