At least 28 people killed as Sudan paramilitary force tears through Darfur

Rapid Support Forces launches a large-scale assault on the town of Misteriha, home to tribal leader Musa Hilal.Published On 24 Feb 2026Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group has carried out a major raid in Darfur-state" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="25468" data-entity-type="location">North Darfur State, killing and wounding dozens of people.The RSF tore through the town of Misteriha killing at least 28 people and injuring 39 including 10 women, said the Sudan-doctors-network" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="2002" data-entity-type="organization">Sudan Doctors Network, which monitors violence in the three-year war.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Sudan condemns RSF chief’s visit to Uganda as minimising ‘human values’list 2 of 4Three aid workers killed, 4 wounded in RSF drone attack in Sudan’s Kordofanlist 3 of 4RSF killings in Sudan bear signs of genocide, UN sayslist 4 of 4Drone attack on busy market in Sudan kills at least 28end of listThe attack destroyed the area’s only health centre. Medical personnel were among those attacked, and one healthcare worker was detained and remains missing, the network said.“These attacks constitute a fully fledged crime and a blatant violation of all humanitarian and international laws that criminalise attacks against civilians,” the group said.The assault on Misteriha came against a backdrop of rising tribal tensions in the western region of Darfur, where a United Nations investigation last week found that the RSF committed acts of genocide against non-Arab ethnic groups.The town is home to Arab tribal leader Musa Hilal – who despite hailing from the Arab Rizeigat ethnic group, which forms the tribal base of the RSF – has voiced support for Sudan’s government.The RSF was formed out of the Janjaweed militia, which fought rebel groups in Darfur and which Hilal commanded. He was sanctioned by the UN for ethnic atrocities in Darfur in the 2000s.Emergency Lawyers, an independent group documenting atrocities in Sudan, said RSF fighters torched many houses in the town, forcing people to flee to nearby villages.The seizure of Misteriha would likely assert RSF control of Darfur. However, it risks escalating tribal tensions in an area long known for violence and war.