Sudan: Crowds celebrate in Damazin after army retakes Kurmuk

Thousands of people celebrated in the city of Damazin, the capital of Sudan’s Blue Nile State, on Wednesday after the army announced it had regained control of the strategic town of Kurmuk from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N).

Thousands of residents took to the streets chanting slogans in support of the army and praising Sudan, while vehicles sounded their horns in celebration of what they described as the armed forces’ victory in Kurmuk, Anadolu correspondent reported.

Blue Nile State Governor Ahmed Al-Omda and Commander of the Fourth Infantry Division Major General Ismail Al-Tayeb toured the city’s streets in an open-top vehicle, where they were welcomed by cheering crowds.

Addressing the gathering, Al-Omda described the recapture of Kurmuk as “a major victory” and congratulated the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Fourth Infantry Division on what he called the “liberation of the town”.

Meanwhile, Kurmuk governor Abdel Ati Mohamed Al-Faki said preparations were under way for residents to return to the town.

“We will form committees to rehabilitate the infrastructure and public services after they were damaged,” he said.

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