The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have recaptured the strategic town of Kurmuk in the Blue Nile region, a key stronghold located directly along the border with Ethiopia, according to reports by the Sudan Tribune.
The town had been under the control of an alliance between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) faction led by Abdel Aziz al-Hilu for several months.
Military sources confirmed that the SAF’s 4th Infantry Division and specialized task forces entered the town on Wednesday, following five days of intense military operations on its outskirts.
The army’s video statement reported that the operation inflicted heavy casualties on the insurgent forces in both personnel and equipment, forcing remaining fighters to retreat southward.
Strategically positioned on the border of Ethiopia’s Benishangul-Gumuz region, Kurmuk is a vital hub for controlling land transport and military supply routes between Sudan, Ethiopia, and South Sudan.
The town’s fall to the RSF last March had raised significant regional security concerns and triggered widespread displacement of residents.
Political and security analysts suggest that the loss of Kurmuk is a major setback for the RSF, particularly hindering their planned military maneuvers toward central Sudan.
Following the recapture, public celebrations were reported in Damazin, the capital of the Blue Nile state. Local authorities have announced the formation of a committee tasked with restoring damaged infrastructure and facilitating the return of displaced civilians.
The RSF has yet to issue an official response regarding the loss of the town.
Since the conflict erupted in 2023, the civil war in Sudan has claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions, triggering a severe humanitarian crisis across the region.
Domestically, in a recent address to the House of People’s Representatives, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) addressed the ongoing situation in Sudan.
In his response to parliamentary inquiries, the Prime Minister emphasized that Ethiopia’s sovereignty remains secure and faces no threats due to the conflict.
