Sudan army captures Fashfoun area in Blue Nile after RSF clashes

The Sudanese army announced early Tuesday that its forces had captured the Fashfoun area in Blue Nile state following clashes with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), consolidating recent gains in the restive region.

In a statement, the military said units from the 4th Infantry Division's 13th Brigade, supported by Special Operations forces, had “cleared” the area after “a decisive battle that inflicted heavy personnel and equipment losses on opposing forces.” The army added that sweep operations were continuing to pursue remaining RSF fighters and restore stability.

Strategic gains

The Fashfoun operation follows the army's recapture of the strategic border town of Al-Kurmuk on July 8. Military officials noted that government forces now control large swaths of Blue Nile state, though the SPLM-N — which has fought for self-rule in South Kordofan and Blue Nile since 2011 — maintains an armed presence alongside RSF units.

Sudan plunged into civil war in April 2023 when tensions between the army and the RSF over paramilitary integration plans erupted into open fighting. The conflict has triggered one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, killing tens of thousands and displacing millions from their homes.