WAD MADANI, Sudan, Jan 13 — The Sudanese army reclaimed the strategic city of Wad Madani on Sunday, taking control from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The move has been hailed as a turning point in the nearly two-year-long civil war that has devastated Sudan.
Civilians and soldiers filled the streets in celebration, with residents expressing a sense of relief. “We are so happy, we can’t express ourselves,” said one woman, as soldiers fired shots into the air. “A whole year we have been squeezed, we haven’t been able to breathe.”
The conflict began in April 2023, following disputes over the integration of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF. What started as a political power struggle quickly escalated into a full-scale war, resulting in one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world. The fighting has displaced over 12 million people and left millions facing hunger.
El Gezira state, home to Wad Madani, had been under RSF control for months. The region, known for its fertile lands, suffered widespread violence and displacement, with many villages destroyed and fields abandoned. Local residents reported brutal raids by RSF fighters, who also set fire to crops. The RSF has denied allegations of abuse, claiming they are battling rogue factions responsible for violations.
The army’s retaking of Wad Madani is a significant blow to the RSF, which continues to control much of Khartoum. Experts suggest the army’s control over El Gezira could disrupt RSF supply lines to the capital and shift the balance of power.
“The SAF’s capture of Wad Madani boosts morale and puts large RSF forces at risk of encirclement,” said Jalel Harchaoui, an associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute.
General Shams el-Din Kabbashi, deputy leader of the Sudanese armed forces, addressed soldiers and civilians in Madani, declaring, “We are in a hurry, and God-willing soon every inch of Sudan will be cleansed.”
The army’s success followed weeks of military advances in surrounding areas. Newly equipped with fresh weaponry and bolstered by new recruits, the SAF was joined by the Joint Forces, a group of former rebel groups, and Sudan Shield, led by an RSF defector, in the assault. RSF forces, according to sources, were forced to withdraw after being overwhelmed by airstrikes and exhausted supplies.
Eyewitnesses reported little resistance in the city itself, with many RSF soldiers retreating northwards toward other towns and Khartoum, pursued by army airstrikes. However, local residents described the extensive looting and violence carried out by RSF fighters before they left.
Lawyer Ahmed Abdelqadir recalled the suffering caused by the RSF’s occupation. “If we had just 1,000 pounds ($0.40), they told us to hand it over. They exhausted and humiliated us,” he said. Many locals cheered as the SAF troops entered the city, relieved to see their liberators.
