Sudanese army reports territorial gains in fighting with RSF

Sudan’s Armed Forces said they made a series of battlefield advances during the second half of June, reporting the destruction and capture of military equipment and the recapture of several areas from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the General Command of the Sudanese Armed Forces said its troops, together with allied forces, conducted military operations across multiple fronts between 15th June and 30th June.

According to the army, the operations resulted in the destruction of 224 military vehicles, the capture of 36 combat vehicles, the downing of a strategic drone, the destruction of two tanks, five military trucks, four fuel trucks, and the destruction of two ammunition depots and two fuel depots.

The army said that in North Darfur, operations in the Abu Qumra area destroyed 39 military vehicles and inflicted what it described as heavy losses on RSF fighters. It also said air defence units shot down a strategic drone north of the town of Tawisha.

In West Darfur, the military reported conducting an operation in and around Kulbus, claiming it destroyed 10 military vehicles and captured 29 others after RSF fighters withdrew from the area.

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The statement added that operations in North Kordofan resulted in the destruction of 119 military vehicles, along with four fuel trucks, five military supply trucks and two fuel depots.

In South Kordofan, the army said it destroyed 27 military vehicles and continued clearance operations to secure areas under its control.

In the Blue Nile region, the military announced it had retaken the areas of Sarkam and Maqja following what it described as decisive battles. It said the fighting resulted in the destruction of 29 armoured vehicles, two tanks, the capture of seven armoured vehicles, and the destruction of two ammunition depots in Kurmuk.

The Sudanese Armed Forces said military operations would continue until the country is “completely cleared” of the Rapid Support Forces and security and stability are restored across Sudan.

The RSF had not immediately commented on the army’s claims, which could not be independently verified.

Sudan has been engulfed in conflict since April 2023, when fighting erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces, led by army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces, commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as Hemedti.

The conflict has triggered one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises, according to the United Nations, displacing millions of people and leaving large parts of the country facing acute shortages of food, healthcare and basic services.

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