SAF seizes control of Wad Madani in major blow to RSF

PORT SUDAN — The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) regained control of Wad Madani, the capital of Al Jazira State, on Saturday afternoon, delivering a significant blow to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which had held the strategic central Sudanese city since late 2023.

The SAF’s advance into Wad Madani was part of a larger offensive that began earlier this week. The military secured key towns leading to the city, including Hajj Abdallah on Wednesday, Shabarga on Thursday, and Om Al Gura—located less than 25 kilometers east of Wad Madani—on Friday.

They also captured Wad El Mehedi in the east, tightening the noose around RSF positions. Launching a coordinated assault from the east, west, and south, the SAF’s strategy overwhelmed RSF defenses and capitalized on recent momentum.

There was no sign of resistance from the RSF in Wad Madani itself, also the group had attempt to resist on Thursday in Om Al Gura.

The recapture of the AL Jazira State capital marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing conflict between the SAF and the RSF, coming nearly a year after the paramilitary group seized Wad Madani on December 18, 2023, during its expansion into central Sudan.

The city, home to the SAF’s 1^st Infantry Division, holds strategic and symbolic importance, and its loss represents a major setback for the RSF.

Darfur governor and leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM), Minni Arko Minnawi, whose forces have been fighting alongside the SAF on the Al Jazira front, confirmed the development in a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“The forces of steadfastness and dignity—the armed forces, the joint force, and the popular resistance—stormed the walls of misery and aggression and liberated Al Jazira. Wad Madani is now free land. This victory honors the victims of Wad al-Nura and other sons of Sudan. The criminals fled, and others followed,” Minnawi stated.

The SAF also issued a statement acknowledging their advancement but stopped short of officially confirming the complete recapture of Wad Madani.

“The Sudanese Armed Forces and other regular forces advanced on the Madani axis, the capital of Al Jazira State, inflicting heavy losses on the rebel Rapid Support militia (Janjaweed),” the statement read.

This latest success comes three months after the SAF began reclaiming key areas in eastern Sudan and parts of Khartoum State.

On September 26, SAF forces advanced into Khartoum and Khartoum Bahri, seizing control of the eastern access points to the Al Futihab Bridge, Armed Forces Bridge, and Al Halfaya Bridge – critical crossings into Khartoum North.

In October, the SAF launched operations to retake Sinja, the capital of Sennar State, which had been under RSF control since late June. By November 23, SAF forces had expelled RSF fighters from Sinja after capturing the towns of Dinder and Suki and breaking the RSF siege following the SAF’s seizure of Jebel Moya in early October.

The RSF’s capture of Wad Madani in December 2023 had opened central, eastern, and southeastern Sudan to the paramilitary group. Their combat tactics, homed in Darfur’s desert terrain, initially overwhelmed the SAF, leading to a series of territorial losses.

Despite this latest defeat, the RSF maintains control over parts of Sennar State, including the 66th Infantry Bridge headquarters in Mazmum and isolated villages in Blue Nile State.

RSF fighters have also recently carried out operations in Jebellen locality of White Nile State near the South Sudanese border.

The recapture of Wad Madani by the SAF underscores a significant shift in the dynamics of Sudan’s ongoing conflict, potentially altering the balance of power in the central and eastern regions.