Sudan army closes in on Kurmuk after destroying last rebel strongholds

May 28, Kurmuk — The Sudanese Armed Forces announced on Wednesday that they are closing in on the town of Kurmuk in Blue Nile region after destroying what they described as the last rebel strongholds in the area, while also repelling an RSF attack on a key position south of the city.

The Fourth Infantry Division said in a press statement that the army and allied forces had “demolished the last rebel strongholds surrounding Kurmuk and are approaching the storming of the city.” The army also said it repelled a Rapid Support Forces attack on the Al-Barka station south of Kurmuk, inflicting heavy casualties and seizing a number of RSF combat vehicles and equipment.

The army said its forces are advancing on Kurmuk from two axes — north and south — in a pincer movement aimed at encircling rebel forces inside the city. Earlier this week, the army announced it had retaken the Al-Barka area on Kurmuk’s southern outskirts, and on Tuesday declared control over four areas in Qaisan district northeast of the city, including the areas of Adi and Abu Daqla. It said pursuing forces had chased rebel fighters to the international border with Ethiopia.

The RSF and SPLM-N alliance seized Kurmuk — a strategic border town with Ethiopia — in March, following the activation of the southern Blue Nile front in February.

Sudan accuses Ethiopia of providing logistical support to the RSF-SPLM-N alliance in Blue Nile, allegations Addis Ababa has not publicly addressed.

In a conflicting account, the SPLM-N issued a statement on Wednesday saying the Sudanese army attacked the Adi and Abu Daqla areas in Qaisan district with more than 20 combat vehicles, killing and wounding civilians, burning homes, and looting gold mining equipment. The movement said the attack displaced the entire population of both areas and that more than 100 children remain unaccounted for after fleeing into forests and valleys.