The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) announced it had retaken the strategic Maqja area in Sudan’s Blue Nile region after General al-Burhan’s SAF regained control of the area three weeks ago.
Field commanders affiliated with the RSF published video footage on Wednesday from inside Maqja, claiming the group had restored control over the area and signaling plans to advance toward other nearby locations.
Fighting has continued across Blue Nile state, where General al-Burhan’s SAF and forces aligned with the Sudan Founding Alliance (TASIS) have repeatedly exchanged control over several strategic positions.
The RSF previously announced its capture of Maqja in March as part of a broader offensive in the region, while General al-Burhan’s SAF recently recaptured the nearby Kili area just weeks after losing it to the RSF.
Military analysts say Maqja holds major strategic importance because it serves as the southern gateway to Damazin, the capital of the Blue Nile region. The area lies roughly 90 kilometers southwest of the city and is considered a key defensive line protecting the regional capital.
Experts also noted that Maqja’s location allows forces to monitor and control military movements and supply routes across the area, while helping secure important government and administrative facilities.
The area additionally falls within the security perimeter of the Roseires Dam, Sudan’s largest hydroelectric power facility, located around 98 kilometers away.
The reported RSF advance coincided with a visit by SAF Assistant Commander-in-Chief Lt. Gen. Yasser al-Atta to the 4th Infantry Division in Damazin, where he reviewed military operations and troop readiness.
Al-Atta praised the discipline and morale of SAF forces stationed in the region and commended what he described as recent battlefield victories, saying General al-Burhan’s SAF would continue operations aimed at “defending the land and restoring stability.”
Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Ismail al-Tayeb Hussein, commander of the 4th Infantry Division, said the visit boosted troop morale and insisted the division remained fully prepared to carry out military operations against the RSF.
