The Sudanese army said on Tuesday that it thwarted an attack by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and its ally, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), on its positions in southeastern Blue Nile state.

The army’s 4th Infantry Division said in a statement that the attack targeted its positions in the Sali area in the eastern part of the state, inflicting heavy losses on the RSF in personnel and equipment.

“Our forces repelled the attack and foiled the enemy’s plan,” the statement said, adding that troops seized 15 fully equipped combat vehicles and destroyed five others belonging to the attacking forces.

The division said army forces would continue countering attempts to breach their positions and carrying out field operations to strengthen security and consolidate control of the area.

Devastating war

On Monday, the army said it repelled an attack by the RSF and allied SPLM-N forces on the Al Baraka area in Blue Nile state. It also said its air defences responded to a drone attack east of the capital Khartoum.

Blue Nile state has witnessed escalating fighting in recent weeks following attacks by the paramilitary RSF and SPLM-N on areas across the state.

​​​​​Sudan has been engulfed in war between the army and the paramilitary RSF since April 2023 over disagreements concerning the unification of the military establishment, leaving tens of thousands of people dead and displacing around 13 million people. The RSF has been accused of committing mass atrocities during the war.