Sudan's Army Enters Wad Madani to Expel RSF

In Sudan, the military has announced that its forces, along with allied armed groups, have entered the city of Wad Madani. They are working to remove the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group from the city in Gezira state, which has been under RSF control for over a year. The army congratulated the Sudanese people on this achievement and stated that operations are ongoing to clear remaining RSF pockets within the city.

Khalid al-Aiser, the army-allied government spokesperson, confirmed the city's liberation. The Sudanese army and RSF have been in conflict since April 2023, leading to severe displacement and famine in parts of Sudan. Wad Madani is strategically important due to its location at a crossroads connecting key supply routes and its proximity to Sudan's capital, Khartoum.

Recently, the US accused the RSF of committing genocide and imposed sanctions on its leader, Mohammed Hamdan Daglo, also known as Hemedti. Local resistance groups celebrated the military's advance, viewing it as the end of RSF oppression. The army's recapture of Gezira state could be a turning point in the ongoing conflict, which began over disputes about integrating the army and RSF.

The war has caused tens of thousands of deaths and displaced over 12 million people, with many seeking refuge abroad. Gezira state initially hosted over half a million displaced individuals, but an RSF offensive in December 2023 displaced around 300,000 people. While the army has regained control of the northern and eastern regions, the RSF still controls much of Gezira State, Darfur, and southern Sudan.