In Sudan, the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has intensified, with the RSF seizing control of Roufaa and making incursions into the neighboring town of Wad Madani. These developments mark a significant escalation in a conflict that has largely spared the central-eastern state of al-Jazira until now.
Witnesses reported that on Monday, the RSF captured Roufaa and established a presence in Wad Madani, the capital of al-Jazira state, which is home to over 270,000 people in need of aid. The town had previously served as a humanitarian hub and a refuge for displaced persons fleeing the fighting in Khartoum, according to the United Nations.
In Wad Madani, 180 kilometers south of Khartoum, paramilitaries established a military base on Sunday before seizing control of Roufaa, located 40 km from the town. The RSF reportedly took over key locations including the army headquarters, police office, and hospital after an hour-long clash. On social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, the paramilitaries claimed to have taken control of the army’s first infantry division in Wad Madani.
Rsf Celebrate In Gouz Abudloaa After The Capture Of Migrants Trying To Cross Into Libya, Surrounded By Toyota Vehicles Mounted With Machine Guns. © Rashraf Shazly/afp Via Getty Images
Despite these developments, the Sudanese army has maintained that the security situation in al-Jazira state has stabilized, urging residents not to leave their homes.
Meanwhile, in the western region of Darfur, military sources reported army strikes on the airport of Nyala, Sudan’s second-largest city, and the 16th Infantry Division buildings, previously claimed by the RSF. Additionally, the RSF’s Al-Zurq base, a major supply center, was targeted in the bombings.
The “Emergency Lawyers” collective has reported that recent bombardments have hit populated neighborhoods, resulting in casualties and injuries among civilians. The collective mentioned a specific incident involving explosive barrels, which killed 10 people and injured 37.
The conflict between General Abdel Fattah al-Burhane, the head of the army, and his deputy-turned-rival, General Mohamed Hamdane Daglo, head of the RSF, has had a devastating impact on Sudan. According to the United Nations, the conflict has left at least 12,000 people dead and more than six million displaced, further destabilizing the East African nation.
