Sudan’s army repels RSF attack in Blue Nile

August 3, 2024 (AL-TADAMUN) – Sudan’s army said on Saturday it had repelled an attack by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Blue Nile state, the first fighting between the two sides in the region bordering Ethiopia.

Activists accused the RSF of committing abuses against civilians in several villages in the area. Sudan Tribune could not independently verify the claims.

The fighting took place in the Qali area of Al-Tadamun locality, the army said in a statement on its Facebook page.

The army said it had destroyed RSF combat vehicles, killed dozens of fighters and seized others. It released videos showing soldiers capturing RSF vehicles and bodies of the assailants left behind.

The RSF said it had taken full control of Al-Tadamun, posting additional videos of fighters inside what appeared to be a military camp.

Resistance committees in the Blue Nile region capital of Al-Damazin said RSF fighters had entered the state on Saturday afternoon from Sennar state to the west. The fighters reached the Jariwa and Qali areas, killing and looting in Jariwa, before being repelled by the army in Qali.

The committees said a number of civilians had been killed or wounded.

The Blue Nile region, which has hosted many people displaced from Sennar state, has been cut off from communications since June.

Since fighting between the army and RSF erupted in Khartoum on April 15, the conflict has spread to other parts of Sudan, including the western region of Darfur.

The RSF has controlled most of Sennar state since June.