Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Saturday announced that they had fully captured the headquarters of the army’s 17th Infantry Division in Sinja town of Sennar State, southeastern Sudan.
The RSF shared videos of their soldiers and senior officers speaking from the military headquarters and local government buildings, confirming the takeover.
The attack on Sinja coincided with military leader Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burgan’s visit to the army’s defensive positions in the city of Sennar. The RSF attacked Sennar city on June 25, but the army was able to repel the attack.
Local sources told Radio Tamazuj that the RSF attacked Sinja, leading to clashes with the Sudanese army at the military garrison. The clashes have led to a displacement of civilians to Abu Hajar, Dinder, Damazin and other areas.
Sennar State is strategically important because it is a trading hub. Capturing Sennar gives the RSF a significant advantage for future attacks on the neighbouring White Nile State and cutting off the Blue Nile region.
The RSF spokesperson Al-Fateh Qureshi announced on their official X account: “This evening, our forces were able to liberate the headquarters of the 17th Infantry Division in the city of Sinja on the western bank of the Blue Nile, and our forces captured military equipment in an important step that will have consequences, given the division’s strategic location and military importance.”
“The victory achieved today confirms the determination of our forces to move forward to liberate the entire country from the ‘terrorist remnants’ who pose a threat to our people. Very soon, new areas will be liberated, and our forces will work with confidence and determination to advance towards them, liberating the entire country and achieving stability for our people,” he added.
The Sudanese army has yet to respond.
The RSF has been making advances into Sennar State for weeks. Earlier this week, it clashed with the army in the strategic Jebel Moya area.
The war began on April 15, 2023, when Sudanese citizens awoke to sounds of gunfire and clashes in the capital, Khartoum, pitting units of the Sudan Armed Forces against the RSF.
UN agencies say around 10 million people have fled their homes across Sudan since the war broke out between the two rival forces.