Siege of Zalingei | |||||||
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Part of 2023 Sudan conflict's Darfur campaign | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) | Rapid Support Forces (RSF) | ||||||
Units involved | |||||||
21st Infantry Division [1] | Unknown |
The siege of Zalingei was a siege in the city of Zalingei, Central Darfur, Sudan, during the 2023 Sudan conflict. [2]
Between 17 and 23 May 2023, the Zalingei Teaching Hospital was looted as was the Médecins Sans Frontières warehouse. [3] Telecommunications were also cut off. [4] By 29 May, Zalingei became a new epicentre of the fighting under siege by armed militias. [5] Housing and infrastructure were destroyed. [6] The town reportedly faced medical shortages after looting and attacks by the Rapid Support Forces. [7] In June 2023, the United Nations reported of clashes inside the city. [8]
On 6 August 2023, the RSF claimed they had taken full control of the city and the wider Central Darfur region. [9] The SAF subsequently claimed that it had raised the siege of Zalingei and had retaken the western part of the city from the RSF. [10] On 31 August, Zalingei's SAF garrison, consisting of the 21st Infantry Division, fled the settlement. This allowed the RSF to fully secure the entire city without further opposition. [1]