The deputy commander of Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Abdel Rahim Hamdan Daglo, says his group will continue advancing and taking over the remaining states in the country from the army.

Mr Daglo’s declaration came after the RSF recently made battleground gains in the restive western region of Darfur, where it captured some states and army bases.

Darfur is considered to be an RSF stronghold.

“We will move towards other remaining states and [army] headquarters, and they will be under our control, God willing,” Mr Daglo said on Thursday while addressing jubilant RSF fighters in the Central Darfur state capital of Zalingei.

Earlier, the military downplayed battlefield gains recently made by the group in Darfur.

Peace talks between the two sides continue in the Saudi port city of Jeddah in a bid to end the conflict that broke out in mid-April.