Um Dafuq, March 03 (Darfur24)
Residents in Um Dafuq locality in South Darfur state noted that Russian forces based in the Central African Republic have increased their military presence along the border with Sudan, reinforcing positions with locally recruited elements.
Witnesses told Darfur24 they observed large numbers of Russian personnel for the first time on the road linking Central African territory to the town of Um Dukhun in Central Darfur, adding that some of those deployed appeared to be local fighters.
Mohammed Al-Sayer, a Sudanese national arriving from the Andha area inside Central Africa, said the forces searched travelers before allowing them to proceed, without reports of detention or property confiscation.
Local sources indicated that Russian forces in Central Africa have previously trained hundreds of residents, as well as members of Sudanese tribes living along the border, as part of security-related missions.
There has been no immediate official comment from authorities in the Central African Republic or from the Russian side regarding the reported developments.