Sudanese army captures Al-Kili area in Blue Nile from RSF

Military operation

The Sudanese army announced on Saturday that its forces have seized control of the Al-Kili area in Blue Nile state following clashes with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied fighters from the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N). In a statement issued by the military command, the army confirmed that units from the Fourth Infantry Division secured the area on the outskirts of Al-Kurmuk city after sustained combat operations, noting that remaining rebel fighters had fled after suffering heavy losses.

The military indicated that operations would continue across areas of responsibility until the insurgency is defeated and border security is restored, though the Rapid Support Forces have not issued any immediate response to the claims. The Al-Kili area sits on the outskirts of Al-Kurmuk, a strategic location in the southern Blue Nile region that has witnessed escalating clashes in recent weeks.

Conflict dynamics

Blue Nile state has emerged as a contested front in Sudan's protracted conflict, with the army maintaining control over large portions of the territory while the SPLM-N continues its insurgency dating back to 2011. The rebel movement has demanded autonomy for Blue Nile and neighboring South Kordofan, complicating the military landscape as the RSF—a paramilitary force formed from Janjaweed militias—battles the regular army for national dominance.

Humanitarian impact

The latest fighting has displaced thousands of civilians from several towns and villages within the state, adding to the humanitarian catastrophe that has engulfed Sudan since April 2023. The war erupted following a dispute over integrating the RSF into the military command structure, triggering widespread famine and killing tens of thousands while forcing millions from their homes across the country.