Sudanese army captures key city from rebels
3 min read
The Sudanese military has secured a significant victory with the capture of the central city of Wad Madani, marking one of its most crucial successes in nearly two years of brutal conflict against rebel forces. This development has been widely discussed on social media, with videos showing jubilant celebrations as army troops entered the city.
Wad Madani, located in Gezira state, is approximately 87 miles (140 km) south of Sudan’s capital, Khartoum. It holds great strategic importance due to its role as a transportation hub, connecting several states via vital supply routes. The city is also the closest major urban center to Khartoum, which makes it critical for controlling access to the capital and surrounding regions.
The leader of the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF), General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti, publicly acknowledged the loss of the city in an audio message. His tone was irate and disjointed, as he blamed the defeat on the Sudanese army’s superior air power and the use of Iranian-made drones. Despite the setback, Hemedti vowed to continue the fight against the military forces, promising to push for victory even if it took another two decades.
Sudan has been embroiled in devastating conflict since April 2023, when fighting erupted between the RSF and the regular army. The RSF, a powerful paramilitary group, still controls large portions of Sudan, including nearly the entire Darfur region in the west and significant parts of the south. Meanwhile, the Sudanese army retains control over much of the north and east, as well as parts of Khartoum. The ongoing violence has decimated the country, leading to severe humanitarian consequences.
The war has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of people, with the United Nations estimating that about nine million individuals have been displaced, making it one of the largest displacement crises in the world. Furthermore, Sudan is facing a dire food crisis. Nearly half of the population, or 24.6 million people, is in urgent need of food assistance, according to experts. This dire situation has contributed to a worsening famine across the nation.
In a recent move, the United States imposed sanctions on General Hemedti, accusing the RSF and its leader of committing genocide. The sanctions target Hemedti due to his role in what the U.S. describes as a pattern of “systematic” atrocities carried out during the 20-month-long conflict. These actions have drawn widespread international condemnation and further isolated the RSF leadership.
The situation in Sudan remains precarious, with no clear end to the conflict in sight. While the army’s capture of Wad Madani is a significant milestone in the war, the RSF’s ongoing control over large parts of the country ensures that the fighting will likely continue. The humanitarian crisis continues to escalate, with millions of people caught in the crossfire, facing severe shortages of food, shelter, and medical care.
As the war drags on, there are growing calls from the international community for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. However, with both sides entrenched in their positions, prospects for a ceasefire or lasting peace remain uncertain.
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