Fighting erupts in Sudan’s Blue Nile and White Nile states

December 8, 2024 (AL JABALAIN) – Clashes erupted between Sudan’s army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the Blue Nile and White Nile states on Sunday, with both sides claiming victories.

The RSF said it had captured the town of Bout in the Blue Nile state, but the army denied this, saying it had repulsed the attack.

“Our forces succeeded in establishing full control over the border area of Bout,” the RSF said in a statement.

The army, however, said it had inflicted heavy losses on the RSF in Bout.

“The heroes of the 15th Infantry Brigade repelled a desperate attempt by the terrorist militia of Dagalo to attack Bout,” the army said in a statement, referring to RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.

Brigadier General Mohamed Mahmoud, commander of the 15th Brigade in Bout, told Sudan Tribune the town had not fallen to the RSF.

Meanwhile, heavy fighting was also reported at the Joda border crossing with South Sudan in White Nile state.

The RSF claimed to have captured the crossing, but the army said it had regained control after air strikes.

A military source told Sudan Tribune that the army had pushed the RSF back from the border crossing and retaken control of a nearby military camp.

The fighting in the Blue Nile and White Nile states is the latest in a series of clashes between the army and the RSF, which have been battling for control of Sudan since April.