Rival Tigrayan Factions Clash in South Tigray, Sparking Fears of Renewed Conflict
The incident reportedly occurred in the Alasa locality of Wajra, a zone in southern Tigray near the border with Ethiopia's Afar region. Local media outlet Ethio Focus reported that TDF forces used mortar and DShK heavy machine guns in the attack, though no confirmed casualties have yet been reported.
The TPF, which only formally adopted its name earlier this week, is believed to have entered Tigray from neighboring Afar, where it had been organizing a resistance movement against what it considers the alliance of Debretsion's TPLF faction and the Eritrean government. Observers say the TPF has positioned itself as a rival force challenging the influence of TDF and its reported political-military alignment with Eritrea.
Sources close to the situation suggest that the TDF deployment of nearly 50 trucks of troops to the area was led by General Yohannes, also known as 'John Medid,' a powerful TDF commander and close ally of Debretsion Gebremichael. General Yohannes is said to have acted to reinforce the faction's control over South Tigray, an area that has strategic and symbolic significance.
Meanwhile, Brigadier General Gebreegziabher Beyene, reportedly aligned with the Tigray Peace Force, is said to have advised restraint, and no retaliatory strikes were confirmed as of Thursday afternoon. The lack of immediate escalation, however, has not prevented widespread concern.
Several Tigrayan opposition groups have condemned the confrontation, warning that the region — which has already suffered years of war, displacement, and humanitarian crisis — cannot afford another round of internal bloodshed. 'Tigray must not be plunged into another war,' one regional political figure told Borkena, calling for 'immediate mediation between the factions.'
The tensions are further complicated by accusations of foreign interference. The TDF is widely seen by critics as a proxy for Eritrean interests, particularly since the reported formation of a new political-military alliance known as Tsemdo, uniting Debretsion's TPLF faction and the Eritrean government. Reports indicate that this faction has received advanced weaponry, including drones, possibly with support from unnamed external actors — although these claims remain unverified.
On the other hand, the Tigray Peace Force is viewed by some observers as having tacit backing from Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's federal government, which has warned against 'unauthorized foreign alliances' and repeatedly accused Eritrea of fueling instability in the north. Eritrea, for its part, denies involvement.
The emergence of competing armed factions, each potentially backed by rival governments, has alarmed analysts and rights groups. If not contained, the confrontation could trigger a new front of civil conflict in an already volatile region.
As of Thursday evening, calls are mounting for regional leaders and international mediators to intervene before the situation escalates into another full-blown crisis.
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Mada
3 hours ago
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Sudan Nashra: RSF-led coalition declares parallel govt in western Sudan, sparks domestic, regional condemnation PM Kamel Idris finalizes Cabinet lineup, urges African Union to reinstate Sudan
From Nyala, the capital of South Darfur, the Tasis coalition — led by the Rapid Support Forces — announced last week the formation of the parallel government first signaled in the Nairobi conference over five months ago. The new administration in the west has control over the majority of Darfur, parts of Kordofan and, to a lesser extent, the Blue Nile region. In the declaration, the coalition appointed governors to eight new federal regions corresponding to a new national map laid out in the government's transitional constitutional framework. The military-led government based in Port Sudan continues to hold sway over Sudan's east, center, and most of the north and the Blue Nile. With both sides continuing to pursue a military solution to the over two-year war, Kordofan has emerged as a fault line. For the military, it serves as a potential launch point to push westward, and for the RSF, securing more ground in the Kordofan states would allow them to move eastward. For months, the region has been the war's main battleground. In last week's announcement, RSF Commander Mohamed Hamdan 'Hemedti' Dagalo was named chair of the presidential council and Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North chief Abdel Aziz al-Hilu was appointed as his deputy. Mohamed Hassan al-Taaishy, a former member of the Transitional Sovereignty Council and a known ally of Hemedti during the post-revolution transitional period, was named prime minister. Both the Arab League and the African Union swiftly rejected the move, with the AU's position taking a more consequential stance, urging member states and the international community to withhold recognition or support for the parallel government and its affiliated groups. Inside Sudan, civilian political groups opposed to the war reiterated longstanding warnings that the conflict threatens national unity, while reaffirming their position that neither administration holds legitimate authority since the October 2021 military coup that ousted the civilian-led transitional government. Meanwhile, nearly two months after his appointment, Prime Minister Kamel Idris finalized his Cabinet lineup. Capitalizing on the AU's rejection of the parallel government, Idris called for Sudan's suspension from the continental body to be lifted, arguing that the conditions for reinstatement have now been met with the establishment of his civilian 'government of hope.' *** RSF-led coalition declares parallel govt in western Sudan caption On July 26, from Nyala, South Darfur, the RSF-led Tasis coalition announced the formation of a parallel government in western Sudan, five months after first announcing the plan in a conference it held in Nairobi in February. The new administration includes a 15-member presidential council headed by RSF Commander Mohamed Hamdan 'Hemedti' Dagalo, with Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) leader Abdel Aziz al-Hilu as his deputy. Former Transitional Sovereignty Council (TSC) member Mohamed Hassan al-Taaishy was named prime minister. The announcement positions the RSF-led administration as a direct rival to the transitional government announced by the military-led TSC, which appointed Kamel Idris as prime minister two months ago and finalized its cabinet earlier this week in Port Sudan. The RSF-led presidential council named governors for eight federal regions outlined in the transitional constitution which was signed by the coalition in Nairobi: Darfur, South Kordofan/Nuba Mountains, the new Funj region, the central, eastern and northern regions, as well as Khartoum and Kordofan. The military issued the first domestic response on Sunday. Military spokesperson Nabil Abdallah dismissed the announced administration as a deceptive stunt, even toward the RSF's own 'allies in treason,' he said. He described the move as part of the RSF's 'illegitimate and self-serving ambition to seize power,' accusing the paramilitary of seeking to impose a 'racist project' on a country 'to which they have never belonged, and whose only connection has been a desire for looting under the protection of influence.' The military also accused the RSF of acting as a proxy to advance regional agendas, saying the group is 'playing every card available.' Darfur Governor Minni Arko Minnawi downplayed the significance of the RSF's announcement, describing it as an attempt to deflect blame for the group's wartime abuses by distributing responsibility among its allies. The Foreign Ministry also issued a condemnation, accusing the RSF of showing 'complete disregard' for the suffering it has inflicted on civilians, dismissing the new government as 'fictitious.' The ministry also criticized the involvement of civilian groups in the announcement, arguing that their participation 'reveals the true face of these alliances' and confirms their role in a conspiracy to seize power by force since the outbreak of the war. The Tasis coalition, which emerged from the Nairobi conference, comprises not only armed factions but also political and civil groups aligned with the RSF. Over 40 groups signed the government's founding charter and transitional constitutional framework. The Foreign Ministry also denounced Kenya for having facilitated the announcement by hosting the RSF's Nairobi conference, calling it a violation of Sudanese sovereignty and a breach of international and regional commitments to non-interference. It warned that any recognition of or engagement with the parallel government would constitute an infringement on Sudan's sovereignty and the rights of its people. Speaking to Mada Masr, Emam al-Hilu, head of the policy committee of the National Umma Party, said neither the Port Sudan-based government nor the Nyala administration holds legitimacy. Both, he said, are military governments: in Nyala, decision-making lies with armed factions; in Port Sudan, with the military and its allies. Emam warned that neither administration is equipped to meet the needs of the people or end the war. He criticized both sides for reducing the conflict to a struggle for power rather than addressing the interests of the Sudanese people. The military-allied Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) also rejected the RSF's declaration outright. JEM spokesperson Mohamed Zakaria told Mada Masr the move was an illegitimate attempt to lend political cover to military actions and foreign agendas disconnected from Sudan's interests. Parallel bodies will not succeed, he said. 'They will only hasten the collapse of the rebellion project in its entirety.' He described the RSF's move as a desperate bargaining chip ahead of potential negotiations.'I don't expect that this step will create a new political or geographic reality,' he added. 'But the danger is that it entrenches division and opens the door to further schemes aimed at fragmenting the Sudanese state.' Addressing speculation about possible secession in Tasis's territories of control, Zakaria dismissed the idea as 'an unrealistic exaggeration,' arguing the RSF lacks the institutional structure or international recognition required to pursue such a move. The announcement came as no surprise, Arab Socialist Baath Party spokesperson Adel Khalafallah told Mada Masr, adding that it only confirmed that the war is being prolonged as a means to seize power through military force. Khalafallah warned that the ongoing war now poses the gravest existential threat to Sudan's unity. The simultaneous declaration of two governments by opposing factions, he said, reflects either irresponsibility toward maintaining unity or a deliberate effort to divide the country. 'What matters to us — and to the Sudanese people and their living forces — is an unconditional end to the war, not the fate of what it has produced,' he said. Regional condemnations Although the newly declared parallel government has yet to take tangible steps — such as naming a cabinet or conducting formalities like swearing in — regional condemnations followed the announcement, beginning with the Arab League on the same day. In a statement issued on July 26, the league's General Secretariat denounced the formation of the rival administration and its intention to appoint governors across regions. The move, the statement said, represented a blatant challenge to the will of the Sudanese people and an attempt to impose a new reality by force of arms. A more forceful and consequential response came from the African Union's Peace and Security Council, which explicitly called on all AU member states and the international community not to recognize or support the parallel government. During its meeting on Tuesday, the council strongly condemned the coalition's announcement, rejecting any attempt to fragment the country. It reaffirmed its commitment to Sudan's sovereignty and territorial integrity, urging all member states and international actors to 'refrain from providing support or assistance of any nature to any armed or political group of the so-called 'parallel government.'' The council reiterated that it recognizes only two legitimate authorities in Sudan: the Transitional Sovereignty Council and the newly appointed civilian transitional government. It also renewed calls for an immediate ceasefire, a return to negotiations, and the launch of an inclusive national dialogue. Additionally, the council condemned external interference that continues to fuel the conflict and called for an end to all military and financial support to the warring parties. *** Military bombs govt HQ in Nyala, South Darfur, military source: Drone manufacturing resumes The military carried out an airstrike on the government secretariat headquarters in Nyala, the capital of South Darfur, last week — its first such strike on the city in weeks. The bombing came just hours before the RSF-led Tasis coalition announced the formation of a parallel government from the city. The strike killed a senior commander in the personal security guard of RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan 'Hemedti' Dagalo, a medical source in Nyala told Mada Masr. The RSF-aligned civilian administration in South Darfur swiftly condemned the strike. Its head, Youssef Idris Youssef, denounced the targeting of infrastructure and facilities serving civilians and called on the international community to impose a no-fly zone over Darfur, particularly over Nyala. The airstrike comes as the military ramps up its domestic production of combat and suicide drones, a military source told Mada Masr. According to the source, the military has resumed operations at its military manufacturing lines, especially those dedicated to producing combat and reconnaissance drones. A second military source said the military has been striking selected targets deep inside RSF-held territory — including military installations and other assets considered essential to the RSF's operations, such as weapon stockpiles and field commanders. According to the source, the RSF is working to turn Darfur into a military hub by drawing in leaders from cross-border militias and using the region as a command center for its war against the military. The group, the source said, is cooperating with 'terrorist networks operating deep in western and central Africa.' In response, the military is closely coordinating with several African states on threats posed by individuals considered national security risks, according to the source. In June, the UN Security Council directly accused the RSF of collaborating with armed groups near the border with the Central African Republic, and raised alarm over the group's cross-border operations into the neighboring country. *** Territorial gains on both sides in battle for North Kordofan Fighting escalated across several fronts in North Kordofan this week, as the military pressed forward in its bid to capture Bara and Gabra al-Sheikh and reopen the Saderat road, a critical supply route linking Khartoum's Omdurman to Bara. After weeks of failed attempts, the RSF took control of the strategic town of Um Samima, west of North Kordofan's capital Obeid. The RSF has been scrambling for weeks to hold its ground in North Kordofan, as a defeat in the area would mark a major turn in the wider battle for western Sudan, the stronghold of its top command and newly declared government. On Tuesday, military units — backed by elite forces, revolutionary battalions, and mobilized fighters — recaptured Rahid al-Nuba, a town along the Saderat road, a field source told Mada Masr. The offensive continued into Wednesday, with troops advancing toward Dunki al-Hegab and several villages near Gabra al-Sheikh — a key RSF logistical hub used for supply distribution and command operations. At the same time, reinforcements, mainly from the Sudan Shield Forces, moved westward from Arashkul and Halba in White Nile State toward the Um Sayala area, the source said. There, they clashed heavily with RSF fighters on Wednesday and seized control of the nearby town of Hamra to the east. Later that day, units from the military and Sudan Shield Forces attempted to storm Um Sayala from the northeast, an RSF source told Mada Masr. But RSF fighters had set up an ambush that, according to the source, killed or injured dozens of soldiers, destroyed several combat vehicles, and forced a retreat toward Hamra. In Um Samima, the RSF launched a surprise attack on Wednesday and announced full control of the town after heavy battles with the military. The town had already seen two weeks of heavy fighting as the RSF worked to encircle Obeid from three directions. With footholds already secured in Bara to the north and Kazgil to the south, Um Samima now gives the RSF a western front to pressure the city. In a statement, the RSF described the capture as the first military achievement under the newly declared government and said it came as part of its broader strategic military operations. A former military officer told Mada Masr that the RSF's assault on Um Samima aimed to disrupt the movements of the Fifth Infantry Division in Obeid. The operation was also intended to prevent the military from pushing north and tighten the encirclement of Bara, which the military is trying to reach from several directions, according to the former officer. The military had deployed significant reinforcements and military equipment to North Kordofan fronts over the past week, with the aim of reclaiming all towns and villages along the Saderat road, the officer said. So far, most of its engagements have been reconnaissance missions led by scouting units, they added, anticipating full-scale battles in the coming days. The officer argued that regaining control of Gabra al-Sheikh and Bara could significantly alter the course of the war. Both towns are critical for channeling supplies directly from Omdurman to Kordofan. Securing the area, they added, would enable the military to launch a new offensive axis toward Darfur and limit RSF movement in the region. *** PM Kamel Idris finalizes Cabinet lineup Prime Minister Kamel Idris completed the formation of his Cabinet on Sunday, appointing five ministers and three ministers of state two months after taking office. The final appointments came after Transitional Sovereignty Council (TSC) Chair Abdel Fattah al-Burhan urged Idris to expedite the formation of his government, after more than 60 days of extended consultations over ministerial picks, a source in the TSC told Mada Masr. Lamia Abdel Ghafar was appointed as minister of Cabinet affairs, Al-Moatasem Ibrahim Ahmed as energy minister, and Ahmed al-Dardiry Ghandour as minister of digital transformation and communications. Al-Tohamy al-Zein Hagar took over the Education Ministry, while Ahmed Adam Ahmed was named youth and sports minister. Ambassador Omar Siddig, Mohamed Nour Abdel Dayem, and Salma Eshaq Mohamed were appointed ministers at the Foreign Ministry, Finance Ministry and Human Resources and Social Welfare Ministry, respectively. The eight appointments reflect a largely technocratic direction, preserving a trace of Idris's original vision for his 'government of hope' amid mounting political pressures. Since taking office in late May, Idris's push for a technocratic, non-partisan Cabinet has faced repeated obstacles. Early on, Burhan pushed for regional representation to be a key criterion in cabinet selection, while armed movements signatories to the Juba Peace Agreement pressed to retain their ministerial quotas under the deal. Idris's non-partisan plan unraveled in a meeting with TSC members in July that ended with a reaffirmation of the armed groups' entitlements, breaking the stalemate and paving the way for the latest round of appointments over the following weeks. *** PM urges Sudan's reinstatement to African Union during AU official's visit African Union Commission representative in Sudan Mohamed Belaiche visited Port Sudan this week, where he held talks with high-level Sudanese officials, including Transitional Sovereignty Council Chair Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Prime Minister Kamel Idris. During Belaiche's meeting with Idris on Tuesday, the prime minister called on the AU to treat Sudan's reinstatement as a rightful demand. He argued that the country has met the necessary conditions, including the formation of a technocratic government and the appointment of a civilian prime minister. Idris added that the AU stands to benefit most from Sudan's return as an active member, given what he described as the country's long-standing contributions to continental efforts predating even the AU's founding. He reiterated his administration's readiness to fully cooperate with the AU on all regional priorities. For his part, Belaiche stressed the importance of Sudan's return to the continental body. Sudan's membership was suspended by the AU Peace and Security Council following the military coup that ousted the civilian-led transitional government in October 2021. The AU stated at the time that the suspension, a measure the AU typically employs in response to military coups in African countries, will remain in effect until civilian rule is restored. Belaiche also praised the Sudanese military for their advances against the RSF, describing their campaign to 'crush the rebellion and restore stability across the country' as commendable. His visit came as the AU Peace and Security Council issued a statement rejecting recognition of the RSF's rival government announced earlier this week from Nyala. After his meeting with Burhan on the same day, Belaiche, speaking to the press, emphasized the importance of dialogue, pointing to the May 2023 Jeddah Declaration as a foundation for ending the war and launching intra-Sudanese talks. Belaiche announced that the AU Peace and Security Council will hold a meeting on Sudan on August 4 and expressed hope that Sudan could become a model for conflict resolution in Africa. He reaffirmed the AU's support for legitimacy in Sudan and its national institutions, highlighting the organization's interest in supporting reconstruction efforts and facilitating the voluntary return of displaced people and refugees. *** Transitional Sovereignty Council deputy head embarks on new African tour Transitional Sovereignty Council (TSC) Deputy Chair Malik Agar launched a new diplomatic tour in Africa last week, with visits to Namibia and Zambia on July 24 and 25, respectively. A source in the TSC told Mada Masr that the visits are part of a broader push to present the government's vision on Sudan's ongoing crisis and explore African-led solutions. The visits, the source added, reflect Khartoum's belief in the capacity of African nations to resolve their own internal conflicts without resorting to foreign interventions that often fail to grasp the complexities facing African countries. The source highlighted Zambia as a potential key player in the Sudan file, citing its close tracking of developments and consistent diplomatic support since the outbreak of war. Agar arrived in the Zambian capital Lusaka on July 25, following his stop in Namibia. During his meeting with Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, Agar briefed him on the situation inside Sudan, particularly the humanitarian crisis, which he blamed on the RSF. Agar described what is happening in Sudan as 'an occupation and settlement attempt by a militia receiving backing from neighboring countries and the United Arab Emirates.' He reiterated Sudan's commitment to resolving African crises through African institutions and said the country remains open to all good-faith initiatives. For his part, Hichilema expressed concern over the scale of destruction in Sudan and extended condolences to the victims of the war. He reaffirmed Zambia's support for Sudan and pledged to play a positive role in helping Sudan reclaim what he described as its 'natural place in the African continent.' *** Diplomatic sources: Washington meeting on Sudan postponed due to disputes over expanding participation The United States postponed a high-level meeting that was expected to mark its most significant diplomatic push on Sudan since the outbreak of war, according to Sudanese diplomatic sources who spoke to Mada Masr. The meeting, which was set to include the foreign ministers of the US, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, was scheduled for July 30 in Washington, but was called off amid internal disagreements within the US administration. A diplomatic source at Sudan's embassy in Washington said the delay stemmed from tensions between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Senior Advisor on Arab, Middle Eastern and African Affairs Massad Boulos. Rubio pushed for expanding participation to include other regional actors from Sudan's immediate neighbors and beyond, while Boulos insisted on limiting the talks to the existing group, the source said. The disagreement prevented a consensus and ultimately led to the meeting's cancellation. While Cairo notified Sudan of the postponement, according to a source at the Sudanese Foreign Ministry, Khartoum had not received any formal invitation to attend, which the Sudanese embassy official in Washington also confirmed. For that reason, the government in Port Sudan has not issued an official position on the US-led platform, a source in the Transitional Sovereignty Council told Mada Masr. The only communication received came via Egyptian channels and was only within the scope of routine coordination on joint regional and international efforts, they added. Earlier this week, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Atty announced that Cairo would participate in what he described as a critical ministerial meeting involving key regional and international stakeholders. In late June, Rubio made public remarks that Sudan would become a diplomatic priority for the US and appointed Boulos to lead efforts on the file.
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