Zalingei

Zalingei or Zalinjay (Arabic: زالنجي) is a town in Western Sudan, and it is capital of Central Darfur state. As of 2009, it had an estimated population of 27,258.

The town experiencing security instability since 2003. This is because of the rebels and armed opponents who use it as a ground to launch their attacks against the state.

In 2023, the town became under siege during the 2023 Sudan conflict and fell to the Rapid Support Forces in August 2023.

The town is home to the University of Zalingei.

The city is served by the Zalingei Airport (IATA: ZLX, ICAO: HSZA).

Köppen-Geiger climate classification system classifies Zalingei’s climate as hot semi-arid (BSh). Afternoon temperatures are always hot and are hottest in March, April and May when they may reach 40 °C (104 °F). The rainy season is from June to September. At this time the diurnal temperature range is least, and afternoon temperatures are cooler but still hot, being coolest in the wettest month of August. On the other hand, morning temperatures are coolest from November to February, when diurnal temperature variation is greatest, so that morning temperatures drop to as low as 6 °C (43 °F).