Fierce fighting erupted on Thursday between Sudan’s military and allied forces of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) in the Um Darfa area of Blue Nile, according to military sources cited by local Sudanese media.
The clashes broke out in Wad al-Mahi locality after RSF and SPLM-N fighters reportedly launched an offensive against army positions.
The extent of the fighting, battlefield gains and possible casualties could not be independently verified.
The latest confrontation comes amid escalating hostilities across eastern Blue Nile, where fighting that previously centred on Geissan and Kurmuk has gradually spread towards the regional capital, Damazin, and the strategically important city of Roseires.
Wad al-Mahi, approximately 50 kilometres from Damazin, lies near the Ethiopian border and forms part of a contested corridor extending towards Roseires and its major hydroelectric dam.
The eastern front includes several disputed areas, including Menza, Jabal Nimr and Bashkarkat, where military operations have intensified in recent days.
The escalation has coincided with repeated drone attacks on Damazin, targeting several locations and facilities.
On October 3, army-aligned regional authorities alleged that RSF drones struck the Blue Nile governor’s residence and civilian sites in the city. The allegations have not been independently verified.
The renewed fighting has heightened concerns over the security of Damazin and Roseires as the conflict expands into previously less-contested areas of Blue Nile.
