Sudan army recaptures two areas in Blue Nile 

May 18, Ad-Damazin — The Sudanese Armed Forces announced on Monday that they had retaken two areas in the Blue Nile region following intense combat operations against a joint alliance of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) led by Abdelaziz al-Hilu.

The Fourth Infantry Division — the army’s main formation in Blue Nile — said in a statement that its forces, alongside allied units, had recaptured the areas of Kern Kern and Doukan in the southeastern part of the region “after violent clashes with RSF militia and the forces of Joseph Tuka,” inflicting heavy casualties and destroying a number of enemy positions and military equipment.

The division said its forces demonstrated “a high level of combat readiness and discipline” throughout the operations, and that they were continuing to advance steadily toward securing strategic areas across the theatre of operations.

The Blue Nile region has seen a marked escalation in fighting since March, when the RSF and SPLM-N launched intensified military operations that enabled them to seize the town of Kurmuk and a number of surrounding areas. The region holds significant strategic value due to its border with both Ethiopia and South Sudan.

Sudanese authorities have accused Ethiopia of facilitating the conflict by allowing drone launches targeting Sudanese military and civilian infrastructure from within Ethiopian territory — allegations Addis Ababa has denied.

Sudanese army command framed Monday’s advances as part of a broader series of battlefield gains across multiple fronts, saying they reflect the armed forces’ capacity to meet operational challenges “with efficiency and competence.”