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Sudanese army kills US-sanctioned RSF commander in Darfur

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  • Sudanese army kills US-sanctioned RSF commander in Darfur
  • June 14, 2024
  • Article Body Text CAIRO — <p>Sudan's army said on Friday it had killed Ali Yagoub Gibril, a senior commander for the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces who was under U.S. sanctions, during a battle in the besieged north Darfur city of al-Fashir.</p> <p>There was no immediate comment from the Rapid Support Forces, or RSF.</p> <p>Gibril was a leading commander for the RSF in al-Fashir, the last major city in the Darfur region of Sudan that the paramilitary force does not control.</p> <p>The army said in a statement Yacoub was killed as an RSF attack was thwarted early Friday by its troops and allied &quot;joint forces&quot; fighting alongside it — a reference to non-Arab former rebel groups from Darfur that are aligned with the army.</p> <p>The RSF has been besieging al-Fashir, a city of 1.8 million people, for weeks, and top United Nations officials have warned that the worsening conflict there could trigger widespread intercommunal violence.</p> <p>The U.N. Security Council called Thursday for a halt to the siege.</p> <p><a href="https://www.voanews.com/a/un-security-council-demands-halt-to-fighting-in-darfur-s-el-fasher/7655269.html"><figure><img src="https://gdb.voanews.com/01000000-0aff-0242-6b1e-08dc8c00378d_w1600_r0_n_s.jpg" /></figure></a><a href="https://www.voanews.com/a/un-security-council-demands-halt-to-fighting-in-darfur-s-el-fasher/7655269.html">UN Security Council demands halt to fighting in Darfur’s El Fasher</a></p> <p>War between the army and the RSF erupted over conditions for a transition to democracy in mid-April last year in the capital Khartoum, soon spreading to other parts of the country.</p> <p>The conflict has led to the world's largest displacement crisis, renewed ethnic violence in Darfur blamed on the RSF and its allies, and a sharp increase in extreme hunger.</p>
  • Content Type Text
  • Language English
  • NewsML Media Topics Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
  • Subtitles / Dubbing Available No
  • Network VOA
  • Embargo Date June 14, 2024 10:04 EDT
  • Byline Reuters
  • Brand / Language Service Voice of America - English
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