Sudanese Army Claims Strategic Victory in Ongoing Conflict
The Sudanese army has announced the capture of Wad Madani, a crucial city located in the eastern region, marking one of its most significant advancements in the nearly two-year conflict against rebel forces. Celebrations erupted in the streets as army troops entered the city.
General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, leader of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), acknowledged this setback in an audio message, expressing his frustration and attributing the defeat to the army’s superior air capabilities and the deployment of advanced drones.
Despite the loss, Dagalo pledged to continue the fight until victory is achieved, even if it requires an extended struggle over two decades. Wad Madani serves as the capital of Al Jazira state and is situated approximately 87 miles (140 km) south of Khartoum, the nation’s capital.
The conflict escalated in April 2023 following rising tensions due to the RSF’s redeployment across Sudan, perceived by the army as a threatening maneuver. The ongoing war has resulted in tens of thousands of casualties and has precipitated what the United Nations describes as one of the world’s largest displacement crises, displacing around nine million people.
Furthermore, Sudan is facing a deepening humanitarian crisis, with experts estimating that 24.6 million individuals, roughly half the population, urgently require food assistance amid worsening famine conditions. Recently, international condemnation has led to sanctions against Dagalo, following accusations of the RSF committing serious atrocities, with officials citing systematic acts of violence against the Sudanese populace during the protracted conflict.
