Sudanese commander orders troops in Blue Nile to prepare push against rebels

October 2, 2026 (ED DAMAZIN) – The commander of the Sudanese army’s 4th Infantry Division ordered troops in the southeastern Blue Nile region on Friday to prepare for a decisive push against allied opposition forces, military authorities said.

Major General Ismail al-Tayeb instructed units to raise combat readiness during an inspection of forward positions in southern Balang, aiming to expel fighters from the region and restore government control.

Fighting in Blue Nile flared in January after the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) formed an operational alliance with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N).

The allied factions subsequently seized the strategic border towns of Kurmuk and Geisan along the frontier with Ethiopia, as well as military garrisons at Bakori and Sarkam.

According to a divisional statement, Tayeb reviewed battlefield deployments and logistical needs before visiting a local market in Balang, where he pledged that army units would protect civilians and restore stability.