On 29 June 2026, SAF and the Joint Forces reportedly regained control of Kulbus town, which had been under the control of the RSF since October 2024.698 However, on 10 July 2026, the Joint Forces withdrew699 to positions outside the town.700 The Jebel Moon and Kulbus areas have experienced intermittent clashes since the beginning of 2026.701 In early August 2026, clashes between Darfur Joint Forces and RSF were reported in Bir Saliba and Hajar Marfa’in areas.702 Bir Saliba is strategically located on the Sudan-Chad border, and the area serves as a key supply corridor and access point to SAF military bases in Gargira and Tina in North Darfur. Control of the area has shifted repeatedly since the conflict began. The SAF retook the area on 11 July 2026, bringing its forces and allies closer to the state capital El Geneina,703 while the RSF sought to maintain the area as a defensive line protecting El Geneina.704
During the reference period, drone strikes were reported in El Geneia in October705 and December 2025,706 as well as in April,707 May,708 and June 2026.709 SAF drone strikes were also reported at the Adukong border crossing with Chad,710 near the town of Forbaranga,711 in the Abu Jadad area of Sirba district,712 and in the Habayil area and Sisi town.713
- 698
Sudan Tribune, Sudanese joint forces recapture Kulbus in West Darfur, 30 June 2026, url
- 699
Sudan Tribune, RSF regains control of strategic West Darfur town after army pullback, 10 July 2026, url
- 700
AA, Sudanese group accuses RSF of killings, abuses after entering town in West Darfur, 10 July 2026, url
- 701
Al-Estiklal, After Bir Saliba: Will the Rapid Support Forces’ Last Stronghold in West Darfur Collapse?, 20 July 2026, url
- 702
MEMO, Sudanese official says army pushes back RSF in two areas of North Darfur, 5 August 2026, url; Darfur 24, RSF claims capture of Bir Saliba in West Darfur, 4 August 2026, url
- 703
Mada Masr, Sudan Nashra: Military builds on North Kordofan gains, prepares push into West Kordofan, repels RSF attempt to recapture West Darfur position along Chadian border | SPLM-N clashes with Otoro tribe inside Kauda | Third nationwide blackout in a week as financing impasse stalls electricity sector recovery | Stalled grid repairs put planting season at risk | Ethiopia fighting threatens Sudan’s largest rain-fed farming state, 6 August 2026, url
- 704
Al-Estiklal, After Bir Saliba: Will the Rapid Support Forces’ Last Stronghold in West Darfur Collapse?, 20 July 2026, url
- 705
Sudan Tribune, Sudanese army drone strikes kill 7 in Darfur market, hit RSF sites, 19 October 2025, url
- 706
Sudan Tribune, Drone strike kills 17 in West Darfur capital, 27 December 2025, url
- 707
Sudan Tribune, Sudan army drone strikes kill 20 in Darfur, officials say, 13 April 2026, url
- 708
Sudan Tribune, Sudanese army drone strike kills two in West Darfur, 13 May 2026, url
- 709
Sudan Tribune, RSF’s administration says Sudanese army drone destroyed key Darfur bridge, 9 June 2026, url
- 710
Sudan Tribune, Sudan army drone strike kills three at Chad border crossing, 16 April 2026, url
- 711
Sudan Tribune, Sudanese army drone strike kills senior RSF commander in West Darfur, 13 March 2026, url
- 712
Darfur 24, Drone strike kills chief and family in West Darfur, 20 October 2025, url
- 713
Sudan Tribune, Sudanese army drones strike RSF training centre in Nyala, 29 June 2025, url