Sudanese RSF continued its advance on Monday, extending their reach into the once-safe haven of Wad Madani, the capital of Al-Jazira state.
Witnesses reported the capture of Rufaa, a town situated north of Wad Madani, by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The escalation followed the establishment of an RSF base in Wad Madani the day before, prompting a mass exodus from Sudan’s second city, which had previously served as a sanctuary and aid center for many individuals displaced by the conflict.
Eyewitnesses informed media that the RSF gained control of Rufaa, taking command of key facilities such as the army headquarters, police office, and hospital following a one-hour clash in the town.
The conflict erupted on April 15 between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. Wad Madani, located 180 kilometers (110 miles) south of Khartoum, had harbored thousands of displaced individuals amidst the ongoing strife.
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the city’s population surged to 700,000 as over half a million sought refuge there, including 270,000 individuals requiring urgent humanitarian aid.
Via a message posted on a platform previously known as Twitter, the RSF declared on Monday their successful takeover of the SAF (army) First Infantry Division in Wad Madani, detailing the liberation of the central reserve camp and the strategic Hantoob Bridge from the eastern side.
RSF also accused the Sudanese military intelligence, backed by loyalists tied to the previous regime, of carrying out ethnic-based massacres, including killings, torture, and arrests in Wad Madani, targeting civilians allegedly supporting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
RSF urged immediate condemnation from the global and regional community for serious violations of ethical standards, humanitarian principles, and international law for the alleged crimes it says were committed by the army.
“The RSF remains steadfast in its commitment to stop this war and build together with the people of Sudan a new nation based on the principles of peace, inclusivity, and democracy. We vow to put an end once and for all to the injustices, marginalization, and discrimination that have for more than three decades served as the hallmark of the extremist former regime,” the group added.
In another development, in the western Darfur region, the air force reportedly targeted military structures and the airport in Nyala, the state capital of South Darfur, which the RSF had claimed control over in October. The RSF’s Al-Zurq base, a vital supply center, was allegedly bombed according to a military source.
Reports from the “Emergency Lawyers” advocacy group highlighted army airstrikes hitting populated areas in Nyala, causing casualties and injuries among civilians.
The ongoing conflict between the army and the RSF has claimed approximately 12,190 lives, as per estimates by the Armed Conflict Locations and Events Data project.
Additionally, it has internally displaced 5.4 million people within Sudan while forcing over 1.3 million to seek refuge in other countries. Both warring factions face accusations of using indiscriminate bombing in residential zones, employing civilians as shields, and engaging in acts of robbery and harassment.
