Sudan’s Sovereignty Council chief inspects army’s readiness in Blue Nile State amid escalating clashes with RSF

The chairman of Sudan’s Sovereign Council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, inspected the readiness of the army on Wednesday in Blue Nile state in southeastern Sudan, Anadolu Agency reported.

The visit comes amid escalating clashes in the state between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and its ally, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N).

In a statement, the army’s 4th infantry division said that Burhan, who also commands the Sudanese army, visited the city of Damazin, the state capital and the headquarters of the division.

It added that Burhan inspected the division’s forces and assessed their combat readiness and preparedness to carry out their assigned missions.

He was also briefed on the security and operational situation in the region, according to the statement.

Burhan stressed “the need to raise levels of preparedness and vigilance and strengthen discipline and combat readiness,” according to the statement.

He also called for “continuing to carry out missions in accordance with military plans and directives.”

Burhan also inspected the military hospital in Damazin, where he was briefed on the conditions of wounded soldiers and patients, and the hospital’s operations.

He affirmed the army command’s commitment to its personnel and to providing them with the necessary care.

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The statement quoted 4th Infantry Division Commander Maj. Gen. Ismail al-Tayeb, who said Burhan’s visit “enhanced their readiness to carry out their missions.”

“The division’s forces are fully prepared to perform their military duties, secure the region and protect civilians,” he said.

He added that the division was ready to “continue implementing the plans and directives issued by the command.”

Burhan’s visit comes amid rapidly developing military developments in Blue Nile state.

On Tuesday, the first contingent of joint forces from armed movements allied with the army arrived in Blue Nile state.

On Saturday, the army announced that it deployed an elite brigade affiliated with the General Intelligence Service to the battlefield in the Bakori axis in the state.

The RSF announced Friday that it seized the Bakori and Sarkam military bases southeast of Damazin.

The army also announced last Thursday that it had shot down a “hostile” drone in Blue Nile state after it crossed the border from Ethiopia.

It said it was the third drone it had announced shooting down within a week.

In addition to Blue Nile and the Darfur region in western Sudan, clashes have been ongoing in the three Kordofan states — North, West and South Kordofan — between the army and the RSF since 25th October.

Sudan has been witnessing a war between the army and the RSF since April 2023, which has killed tens of thousands and displaced around 13 million, according to UN and international estimates.

READ: Nearly 20,000 people displaced by escalating fighting in Sudan’s Blue Nile: Local group