Sudanese army reinforces Ed Damazin as SPLM-N, RSF forces seize Kurmuk
March 27, 2026 (ED DAMAZIN) – The Sudanese army reinforced its positions south of Ed Damazin, the capital of Blue Nile state, on Friday following an escalation in military operations across the southeastern region.
Maj. Gen. Ismail al-Tayeb, commander of the 4th Infantry Division, inspected garrisons in the Dandaro and Sali areas. He said the military had entered a “decisive phase” and would continue to advance until victory was achieved.
The troop movements come as the army faces a combined force of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N).
The rebel alliance claimed earlier this week to have taken control of Kurmuk, a strategic town on the Ethiopian border about 150 km (93 miles) southeast of Ed Damazin, as well as the Maqaja area in Baw locality.
Government sources in Blue Nile said rebel forces were also mobilizing to seize Geissan, another town near the Ethiopian border. The RSF-SPLM-N alliance has threatened to advance on Ed Damazin, which houses Sudan’s second-largest hydroelectric dam.
Blue Nile Governor Ahmed al-Omda Badi ordered local officials to launch immediate mobilization and recruitment campaigns. He urged citizens to organize “popular resistance” to protect the region in coordination with security agencies.
Regional authorities said the governor’s directives followed coordination meetings aimed at addressing current security challenges.
The conflict has triggered a severe humanitarian crisis. The Geissan Emergency Room expressed “deep concern” over new waves of displacement driven by the deteriorating security situation.
The group said in a statement on Friday that many residents had been forced to flee their homes in search of safety. Displaced families face acute shortages of food, water, shelter, and healthcare.
The United Nations humanitarian office (OCHA) warned on Thursday that clashes near the border were threatening aid access to Kurmuk, Sali, and Dandaro.
The Blue Nile Emergency Room reported that fighting in Kurmuk has displaced approximately 73,400 people. Most of those arriving in Ed Damazin and the surrounding areas are women and children.