Sudanese Army Deploys Elite Brigade To Blue Nile Amid RSF Fighting

The Sudanese army has deployed an Elite Brigade to the Bakori axis in Blue Nile State to reinforce troops amid intensified fighting with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The deployment follows an RSF claim that it captured the Bakori and Sarkam military bases, a claim the army had yet to confirm. The military also said it recently shot down a strategic drone that crossed from Ethiopia. The fighting is part of Sudan's wider war, which has killed tens of thousands and displaced around 13 million people since April 2023.

Sudanese Army Deploys Elite Brigade To Blue Nile Amid RSF Offensive
The Sudanese army has deployed an elite brigade to the Bakori operational axis in southeastern Blue Nile State, as fighting with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) intensifies in the strategic border region.
The army's 4th Infantry Division in Damazin said Saturday that its security and intelligence service's "Elite Brigade" had been sent to Bakori on a combat mission.
According to the military, the deployment is intended to reinforce troops already stationed in the area, strengthen their operational capabilities and support ongoing operations against armed groups.

TROOPS SENT TO STRENGTHEN FRONT LINE

Maj. Gen. Ismail al-Tayeb Hussein, commander of the 4th Infantry Division, oversaw the departure of the troops.
He urged the soldiers to maintain a high level of readiness, discipline and combat preparedness as they moved toward the operational area.
The deployment comes amid growing military pressure in Blue Nile State, which borders Ethiopia and South Sudan and has become increasingly important in Sudan's wider war.

RSF CLAIMS CAPTURE OF MILITARY BASES

The latest deployment followed an RSF claim that its fighters had captured the Bakori and Sarkam military bases, located southeast of Damazin, the capital of Blue Nile State.
The RSF made the claim on Friday, but the Sudanese army had not publicly confirmed or denied it as of Saturday morning.
If confirmed, the reported seizure would represent a significant development because military positions around Damazin are important to the army's ability to maintain control of the state.
The conflicting claims also illustrate the difficulty of independently verifying battlefield developments in Sudan, where access to conflict zones is severely restricted.

ARMY REPORTS DRONE ATTACKS

The escalation in Blue Nile has also involved the increasing use of drones.
On Thursday, the Sudanese army said it had shot down a strategic drone after it crossed into Sudan from Ethiopia.
The military said it was the third hostile strategic drone it had brought down within a week.
The claim highlights the increasingly sophisticated nature of the Sudanese conflict, with both sides using drones and other advanced weapons to target military positions and maintain surveillance over contested areas.

COMMANDER VISITED FAZOGLI AREA

A day before the latest brigade deployment, Gen. Hussein visited the Fazogli areas of Blue Nile State.
The army said the visit followed attacks allegedly carried out by the RSF and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N).
The SPLM-N is a longstanding armed movement that has operated in parts of Sudan's border regions and has its own history of conflict with the central government.
The involvement of multiple armed actors adds another layer of complexity to the fighting in Blue Nile.

WHY BLUE NILE MATTERS

Blue Nile is strategically important because of its location along Sudan's southeastern border.
The state contains important agricultural areas and sits close to Ethiopia, making developments there significant for both military strategy and regional security.
Control of territory and supply routes in the region could influence the wider balance of power between the Sudanese army and the RSF.
The state also has a history of armed conflict, particularly involving the SPLM-N, meaning the current fighting is taking place against a background of longstanding political and ethnic tensions.

FIGHTING SPREADS ACROSS SUDAN

The latest developments in Blue Nile are part of a much larger conflict that has devastated Sudan since April 2023, when fighting erupted between the army and the RSF.
The war began as a power struggle between army chief Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF commander Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as Hemedti.
What began as fighting between rival security forces has since developed into a nationwide conflict involving numerous armed groups and local militias.

KORDOFAN AND DARFUR REMAIN KEY BATTLEFIELDS

Alongside Blue Nile and Darfur, fighting has continued across North, West and South Kordofan.
The Kordofan region is strategically important because of its location between central Sudan and the western regions, including Darfur.
Control of roads and towns in Kordofan can provide armed groups with access to important supply routes and facilitate movement between different areas of the country.
The continuing battles there have further complicated attempts to achieve a nationwide ceasefire.

HUMANITARIAN CRISIS DEEPENS

Sudan's war has created one of the world's largest humanitarian crises.
The fighting has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced around 13 million, according to UN and international estimates.
Millions have been forced to flee their homes, with many seeking refuge in neighbouring countries or moving repeatedly inside Sudan to escape fighting.
The destruction of homes, hospitals, schools and agricultural infrastructure has also severely affected access to food, healthcare and other essential services.

NO END TO THE WAR IN SIGHT

Despite repeated international efforts to secure a ceasefire, the army and RSF have continued to fight for control of territory.
The deployment of additional troops to Blue Nile suggests that the military expects further fighting in the area rather than an immediate reduction in hostilities.
As both sides seek to strengthen their positions, the conflict risks becoming even more fragmented, particularly as other armed movements and regional actors become involved.
For civilians in Blue Nile and other contested parts of Sudan, the latest military escalation raises fears of further displacement and worsening humanitarian conditions.
The struggle for control of southeastern Blue Nile therefore represents another front in Sudan's prolonged war, with its outcome potentially affecting the wider military and political balance of the country.