Sudan Army Recaptures Four Areas in Blue Nile, Pursues RSF to Ethiopian Border

May 26, Ad-Damazin — The Sudanese army announced Tuesday it had recaptured four areas in the Blue Nile region in southeastern Sudan and pursued Rapid Support Forces fighters to the border with Ethiopia.

The Fourth Infantry Division — the army’s Blue Nile command — said the 13th Infantry Brigade based in Kurri carried out successful sweeping and clearing operations covering the areas of Abdaqla, Adi, Washimbu, Um Shanqar, and Kinshinkaru, all within Qaysan locality.

The division said its forces, after consolidating control over the four sites, continued pursuing what it described as enemy elements to the international border, in a reference to the frontier with Ethiopia.

The advance comes two days after the army retook the Barka area, bringing it closer to the town of Karamak, which fell in March to an alliance of RSF forces and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) led by Abdelaziz al-Hilu.

The RSF-SPLM-N alliance has since the start of the year launched a series of attacks on the towns of Karamak, Qaysan, Bau, and surrounding villages, destroying infrastructure and disrupting agricultural and commercial activity.

Sudan accuses neighboring Ethiopia of providing logistical support to the RSF-SPLM-N alliance operating in Blue Nile, an allegation Addis Ababa has denied.

The Fourth Division said the 13th Brigade had deployed heavily across the four recaptured areas to prevent any attempt at repositioning or infiltration, saying the operation reflected the forces’ combat readiness and field effectiveness.

Fighting in Blue Nile has displaced around 50,000 people from Karamak, Bau, and Qaysan in recent months, with humanitarian conditions described as dire and fears mounting that the situation will worsen when the rainy season begins in July.