The Sudanese army has secured a significant victory in the country’s almost two-year-long war against rebel forces, capturing the key city of Wad Madani in the eastern state of Al Jazira.
Footage on social media showed jubilant residents celebrating in the streets as army soldiers entered the city.
The leader of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, acknowledged the loss in an audio message, attributing the defeat to the army’s air superiority and use of Iranian-made drones.
Despite the setback, Dagalo vowed to continue fighting until victory, even if it takes another 20 years.
Wad Madani is a strategic crossroads, connecting several states through key supply highways, and is the closest major town to the capital, Khartoum.
The city’s capture is a significant gain for the army, which has been battling the RSF since April 2023.
The conflict has had devastating consequences, with tens of thousands of lives lost and approximately nine million people forced to flee their homes.
The United Nations has described the situation as one of the world’s “largest displacement crises.” Furthermore, Sudan is facing a looming famine, with 24.6 million people in urgent need of food aid.
The US recently sanctioned the RSF leader, accusing the group of committing genocide and systematic atrocities against the Sudanese people.
The conflict continues to escalate, with the army controlling the north and east, and the RSF maintaining control over western Darfur and parts of southern Sudan.
