Sudanese army retakes key areas in Sennar and Blue Nile
SAF regains control of Mazmum, Al Dali, and strategic positions
The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) regained control of Mazmum on Wednesday, reclaiming the base of the 66th Infantry Brigade of the 17th Infantry Division in Sennar State. Mazmum, located in Al Dali locality, had been under the control of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since July 2024, when the group swiftly expanded its presence after taking Sinja, the capital of Sennar State, even advancing toward the outskirts of Blue Nile State’s capital, Damazin.
Since September, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have been gradually reclaiming areas held by the RSF. The military first regained Jebel Moya and Dinder, followed by Al Suki in October and Sinja in November. However, much of southwestern Sennar, including Mazmum and Al Dali, had remained under RSF control until now.
The military in a statement announced the recapture of Al Dali and Mazmum, stating that the 17th Infantry Division (headquartered in Sinja) had successfully liberated the locality and safeguarded homes and properties from violations committed by the RSF, which they referred to as the “Janjaweed.” According to the statement, the division has begun efforts to restore stability and provide essential services to facilitate the safe return of residents under the protection of the Sudanese army, stating:
“The 17th Infantry Division of the Sudanese Armed Forces has successfully liberated El Dali and Mazmum, protecting homes and properties from violations committed by the Rapid Support Militia (Janjaweed). The division has initiated efforts to restore stability, providing essential services to facilitate the safe return of residents under the protection of the Sudanese army.”
Sudan War Monitor previously reported attacks by the Sudanese Armed Forces against civilians, particularly nomad tribes living in the area, during their campaign to recapture the area from the RSF.
A video reviewed and geolocated by Sudan War Monitor shows SAF soldiers in front of Al Terafi fuel station in Mazmum, stating they have cleared all of southern Sennar of RSF forces. In the footage, an unidentified SAF officer declares the area free of RSF presence, urging residents to return to their homes.
“Now, with the help of God, we are inside Al Mazmum. We started with Om Marda, Hilat Al Daoud, and Al Sahbaat. Go (RSF) take the bodies of your killed people. Now we have reached Al Mazmum. Al Mazmum is now clean of the RSF. We send our greetings to the head of military intelligence, the commander of the 17th Infantry Division, the deputy commander, and all officers who participated in this operation,” the officer says.
Another video filmed by Sudanese military combatants and geolocated by Sudan War Monitor confirms SAF control over the headquarters of Al Dali locality. The video, recorded on March 5, 2025, shows SAF soldiers standing in front of the government secretariat in Al Dali, claiming full control of the locality, including Mazmum.
“Today, on the 5th of Ramadan – the month of conquests and victories – we congratulate the people of Sudan and the armed forces, with a special salute to the 17th Infantry Division. Today, we are in the city of Al Dali. ‘Victory is from Allah and a near conquest,’” an unidentified SAF commander says, quoting part of Surah As-Saff (61:13) from the Quran.
Meanwhile, SAF’s 4th Infantry Division in Al Damazin, Blue Nile State, announced the recapture of Quli and Roro in Al Tadamon locality, which had been held by the RSF since last year. A previous SAF attempt to advance into these areas had resulted in heavy casualties.
“With praise to Allah, the leadership of the 4th Infantry Division, through the ‘Wafaa Al-Rijal’ and ‘Kawasir Al-Nil Al-Azraq’ operations, has successfully liberated the city of Quli and the city of Roro in the Al-Tadamun locality, west of the Blue Nile region,” the division said in a statement.
However, Sudan War Monitor was unable to independently verify this claim due to a lack of visual evidence.
Meanwhile, in White Nile State, the Sudanese army advanced into the border area of Tibon in Jabelein locality, near South Sudan’s Upper Nile State. A video reviewed by Sudan War Monitor shows Sudanese soldiers inside the 380th Infantry Battalion of SAF’s 18th Infantry Division.
Farahat Wad Al Omda, a member of the SAF-allied hardline militant group Al Baraa Bin Malik, was filmed speaking in front of the Al Tibon Health Office. While this could mark end of RSF presence in the area, SAF soldiers could be seen bombarding toward the west of the city, signaling continued presence, or fleeing RSF soldiers in the outskirts.
In December, the RSF briefly took control of the border crossing with South Sudan known as Joda, just south of Tibon, but later withdrew. RSF elements who fled Sinja had sought to create diversionary operations along South Sudan border in White and Blue Nile states.
The Sudanese military has also made advances in the capital, Khartoum, where nearly all of East Nile locality has been cleared of RSF presence. The army’s allied Sudan Shield Force, led by Abu Aqla Keikel, has taken full control of Hillat Koko and secured the northeastern entrance of Al Manshia Bridge.
Keikel’s forces were implicated in massacres of civilians during the recapture of Wad Madani City in January, and rural areas around it. Last month, there were reports that some ethnic minorities in Khartoum State were seeking to flee, fearing similar reprisal killings as the army advanced in that region. There are large numbers of South Sudanese, Nuba, and Darfuris living in East Nile Locality.
Sudan War Monitor will cover the latest developments in Khartoum State in a separate report.
Videos
In the video below, members of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) are seen inside Mazmum, near the Terafi fuel station. Sudan War Monitor has geolocated the footage to: 12°16'46.06"N 33°32'21.01"E.
In the attached video, SAF combatants are seen alongside an unidentified commander in front of the Al Dali & Mazmum locality secretariat in Al Dali town. Sudan War Monitor has geolocated the footage to: 12°52'19.82"N 33°24'59.27"E.
In the attached video, Farahat Wad Al Omda, a member of the SAF-allied hardline militant group, is seen in front of the Tibon Health Office in Tibon, White Nile State. Sudan War Monitor has geolocated the footage to: 12°19'44.71"N 33°04'2.65"E.
Support our journalism
Thank you for reading Sudan War Monitor. We are a collective of journalists and open source researchers. We are independent and not affiliated to any of the warring parties. We do this work because we believe that journalism is one accountability mechanism that ultimately can contribute toward peace and justice in Sudan—however distant that hope may be. Our work is intended to be a resource for humanitarians, civil society, ordinary Sudanese, diplomats, and news media. Please subscribe or share to support our work and help “Keep Eyes on Sudan.”