Fighting in Sudan’s Blue Nile sparks mass displacement amid floods

August 16, 2026 (GEISSAN) – Fighting between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has forced thousands of residents to flee parts of southeastern Blue Nile State, civil society monitors and witnesses said on Sunday.

The displacement from the eastern areas of Geissan locality follows intense clashes last week. The Tasis (Founding) Coalition, an alliance aligned with the RSF, said its forces seized the strategic town of Geissan near the Ethiopian border on Tuesday.

Civilians from Adasi and nearby villages were seen crossing the river in small boats toward Kambal on the eastern bank of Wad al-Mahi locality. The crossings took place amid heavy rains, strong winds, and rising floodwaters.

The Blue Nile Civil Society Initiative warned in a statement that ongoing military operations during extreme weather conditions pose a direct threat to civilians.

The group called for an immediate ceasefire and the establishment of safe humanitarian corridors to allow aid workers to reach stranded populations.

Fighting in the region escalated in August, with the RSF and its ally, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), reporting advances in both Geissan and the border town of Kurmuk.