Sudanese officials says the military and its allies had taken back the strategic city of Wad Medani more than a year after the Rapid Support Forces seized it
Sudan’s military and its allies have taken back a strategic city from the rebel Rapid Support Forces, officials said Saturday, dealing a major blow to the notorious paramilitary group which the United States accused of committing genocide in the country’s ongoing civil war.
The recapture of the city of Wad Medani, the capital of Gezira province, came more than a year after it fell to the RSF. Wad Medani had previously been a safe haven for displaced families in the early months of the war.
The conflict in Sudan started in April 2023 when simmering tensions between the leaders of the military and the RSF exploded into open fighting in the capital, Khartoum, and other cities across the sprawling northeastern African country.
The conflict has killed more than 28,000 people, forced millions to flee their homes and left some families eating grass in a desperate attempt to survive as famine swept parts of the country. It has been marked by gross atrocities including ethnically motivated killing and rape, according the United Nations and rights groups. The International Criminal Court said it was investigating alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Earlier this month, the Biden administration said that the RSF and its proxies are committing genocide, and slapped sanctions on the RSF leader, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, as well as seven RSF-owned companies in the United Arab Emirates, including one handling gold likely smuggled out of Sudan.
The military said in a statement that its forces had entered Wad Medani early Saturday and that they were working to “clear the rebels’ remnants inside the city.”
“Congratulations to the Armed Forces, their supporting forces everywhere and to our people as they reclaim their dignity, security and stability,” the statement said.
There was no immediate comment from the RSF.
Culture and Information Minister Kahlid Aleiser, who is the government spokesman, said the military and its allies “liberated” Wad Medani, which is about 100 kilometers (60 miles) southeast of Khartoum.

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