Heavy fighting erupts between Sudanese army, RFS in West Kordofan’s Babanusa

January 23, 2024 (BABANUSA) – Sudanese army forces repelled an initial attack by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on the army command in Babanusa of West Kordofan state, on Monday night. The clashes that ensued resulted in the deaths of dozens of civilians.

After days of tension and anticipation, fierce clashes erupted late Monday night in the eastern neighbourhoods of the city. Eyewitnesses reported that the RSF infiltrated Babanusa and clashed with army troops in the Al-Salam, Al-Wahda, and Al-Tarbiyah neighbourhoods.

Army artillery and warplanes responded with heavy bombardments targeting RSF positions in the southern, northern, and eastern outskirts of the town.

Video clips circulated on social media showed army soldiers celebrating the downing of an RSF drone that had targeted the headquarters of the 22nd Infantry Division in Babanusa.

The violence sparked a wave of displacement among Babanusa’s residents, with the main market and the city hospital closing their doors.

The RSF’s second commander, Abdel Rahim Dagalo, was seen in a video clip and photographs released by the group on the outskirts of Babanusa with the attacking forces, indicating his unwavering resolve to take control of the region despite the opposition of local leaders and the potential risks to civilians.

The RSF’s ambition to seize West Kordofan, a region rich in natural resources such as oil and gold, is the driving force behind these clashes. Civilians, however, have borne the brunt of the violence, with eyewitnesses reporting dozens of casualties among the city’s inhabitants.

The battles have also caused significant damage to Babanusa’s infrastructure, destroying homes and public facilities.

The situation remains volatile, with the potential for further escalation between the army and the RSF.

(ST)