Urgent Security Report | June 8, 2026
Since this morning, June 8, Central Darfur State, particularly the city of Zalingei and its surrounding areas, as well as the roads connecting it to other major cities in the region such as El Geneina and Nyala, has witnessed a worrying escalation in security tensions. These tensions are linked to the ethnic dimensions of the ongoing conflict between the Salamat and Bani Halba groups, amidst growing indications of the potential for widespread clashes that could threaten civilian lives and exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in the region.
Field information received from sources within the “Sudan Rights Watch Network” indicates an escalating state of ethnic mobilization and alert. This includes the closure of markets, including those in Zalingei and Marin, the withdrawal of goods by merchants, and the cessation of movement to markets outside the city. Additionally, there are reports of opposing armed groups gathering in the Jabalain and Janayin Faro areas, east of the Azum Bridge. Sources also reported the closure of the road linking El Geneina and Zalingei through the areas of Mali, Mornei, and Darouti, which threatens further humanitarian and economic isolation for the civilian population.
Background and Context: These developments come in the context of the ongoing Sudanese war, which began on April 15, 2023, between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This conflict has led to a reshaping of military and ethnic alliances in the Darfur region. During this war, the RSF has increasingly relied on its tribal and ethnic networks and alliances to expand its military and administrative influence in the region.
Since late May 2026, a bloody conflict has erupted between the Salamat and Bani Halba tribes in South Darfur State. These two groups have been linked, to varying degrees, to the local alliances supporting the RSF. The conflict has resulted in hundreds of deaths and injuries, and the displacement of thousands, particularly from the Salamat tribe, to areas such as Um Dukhun, Kabar, and Bulbul. This has exacerbated ethnic polarization, and its repercussions have recently spread to West and Central Darfur States. In addition to the ethnic polarization and support for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), part of the conflict stems from disputes over “hawakir” (historical lands) and grazing rights. Daily clashes involving livestock theft, looting, and individual disputes quickly escalate into full-blown armed conflict due to the availability of weapons and the increasing use of heavy weaponry. Villages and residential areas are being targeted, threatening widespread displacement in the Kabum, Rahad al-Bardi, and other regions.
Current events indicate that the conflict is no longer a limited, local dispute, but has acquired complex ethnic and political dimensions. This is driven by competition for influence, resources, and administrative positions within the areas controlled by the RSF in the region. Community leaders from both sides have issued calls for a ceasefire following the escalation of fighting, but the situation remains extremely tense. Human Rights Concerns:
The ongoing developments raise a number of urgent human rights concerns, most notably:
- The direct risk to civilians due to the potential outbreak of armed clashes in or near populated areas in and around Zalingei and other ethnically diverse regions in the rest of the states.
- Restrictions on freedom of movement due to the closure of main roads and the disruption of markets and trade.
- The risk of mass displacement should the current tensions escalate into widespread clashes between the conflicting groups.
- The potential for ethnically motivated violations, including targeting based on tribal or ethnic affiliation, patterns previously documented during successive conflicts in Darfur.
- The deterioration of the humanitarian situation due to the disruption of markets and supply chains and the obstruction of humanitarian access to affected areas.
Legal Responsibility:
Under international humanitarian law and international human rights law, the parties effectively controlling the territory the Rapid Support Forces and allied parties and militias have a responsibility to protect civilians and ensure they are not subjected to attacks, reprisals, or forced displacement. Sudan Rights Watch Network also affirms that any support, arming, or mobilization of ethnic groups within the context of the ongoing armed conflict could deepen societal divisions and increase the risk of grave violations against civilians.
Recommendations:
The Network calls for the following:
- An immediate halt to all ethnically motivated mobilization or armed recruitment in Darfur states.
- An immediate cessation by the Rapid Support Forces of exploiting existing ethnic and tribal sensitivities in the region to prevent any potential bloodshed.
- Urgent measures to protect civilians in Zalingei and potential conflict zones.
- The reopening of roads and the securing of civilian and goods movement with the necessary security guarantees.
- Enabling humanitarian organizations to have safe and unhindered access to affected areas.
- Independent investigations into any violations committed against civilians based on their ethnicity.
- Exerting regional and international pressure on all parties to the conflict, including the Rapid Support Forces and their local allies, to prevent the current conflict from escalating into a new wave of ethnic violence in Darfur.
Sudan Rights Watch Network affirms that the ongoing developments, particularly in Darfur State and West Darfur, constitute a dangerous indication that the conflict between the Salamat and Bani Halba tribes is expanding from South Darfur to a wider regional scope. With the continuation of the April war and the increasing militarization of ethnic identities, the risks to civilians in Darfur are escalating, necessitating urgent intervention to prevent a new cycle of mass violence and widespread human rights violations.
Sudan Rights Watch Network
June 8, 2026