Fighting erupted yesterday between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces north of Sennar and along the Al-Fau road, following clashes last week east of Managil, within Jazira State.
The latest fighting is the result of reconnaissance-in-force operations, carried out by the army toward RSF positions, provoking a response.
Advance elements of the 4th Infantry Division, previously in reserve, led one of the operations yesterday along the front between Sennar and Jazira State. Their arrival is part of a growing military buildup, signaling a likely counter-offensive to retake Wad Madani, the Jazira State capital.
Although the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) outnumber RSF along this front, the counter-offensive nevertheless could go on for months, and the RSF might try to derail it by diverting the fighting elsewhere. For comparison, SAF’s recent offensive in Omdurman, though successful, was painstakingly slow—an approach aimed at preventing troops from falling prey to ambushes and counter-…