Sudanese army captures Al-Baraka near Ethiopian border after RSF clashes

Sudan's armed forces said on Sunday that units from the 4th Infantry Division had secured Al-Baraka area on the outskirts of Al-Kurmuk city in Blue Nile state following clashes with the Rapid Support Forces and allied fighters near the Ethiopian border. The military stated that it had inflicted heavy losses on the paramilitary group and seized or destroyed vehicles and equipment during the operation, according to an official statement.

The army described the engagement as a "decisive military operation" that resulted in the "full security" of the area, claiming its troops had defeated the RSF and associated militia elements. No immediate comment was available from the Rapid Support Forces regarding the army's claims of territorial gains and enemy casualties.

Rebel alliances

The military accused the paramilitary force of coordinating with the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North, a rebel faction that has been battling government troops since 2011 to secure autonomy for Blue Nile and South Kordofan. The SPLM-N has historically contested state control in the region, and its apparent alliance with the RSF marks a significant complication in the ongoing civil war.

Humanitarian crisis

Sudan has faced one of the world's worst humanitarian crises since the conflict erupted in April 2023 over the integration of the RSF into the national military structure. The war has triggered famine conditions across vast territories, killed tens of thousands of people, and forced millions to flee their homes, according to international aid organizations.