PORT SUDAN, Jan 12, (V7N) – The Sudanese army has reclaimed control of Wad Madani, the capital of Al-Jazira state, following an intense offensive against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), marking a significant shift in the ongoing civil war.

RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo admitted in an audio message that his forces had "lost Wad Madani" but vowed to "regain all" of the city, which the RSF had controlled since December 2023. The army confirmed its entry into the city on Saturday, stating it was actively "clearing the remnants of the rebels."

Government officials allied with the army celebrated the victory, highlighting Wad Madani's strategic importance as a transportation hub connecting several states and its proximity to the conflict-ravaged capital, Khartoum, just 200 kilometers (124 miles) to the north.

Daglo downplayed the loss, stating, "Today we lost a round, we did not lose the battle," signaling the RSF's intention to continue fighting.

Since the conflict erupted in April 2023, tens of thousands have been killed, and 12 million people have been displaced. The United Nations has called it the world's largest displacement crisis, with nearly nine million still within Sudan. Al-Jazira had become a refuge for nearly half a million civilians before the RSF's December 2023 offensive forced around 300,000 to flee once again.

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