SRF seize military base, escalate fighting near Wad Madani

December 18, 2023 (WAD MADANI) – The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) announced Monday the takeover of a Sudanese army base east of the Hantoub Bridge, as escalating clashes continued near Wad Madani, the capital of Al-Jazeera State.

The RSF launched a large-scale military operation in Al-Jazeera State on December 15, and their forces have advanced to within 15 kilometres of the state headquarters. On Sunday the army said they repulsed the attack but the paramilitary forces attacked again on Monday morning.

In a statement, an RSF spokesperson declared, “Our forces have successfully captured the 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division headquarters in Wad Madani, along with the Central Reserve Camp and the entrance to the Hantoub Bridge from the east.”

However, photos released by the RSF show they captured a training centre of the Sudanese army but not the premises of the 1st Division in Wed Madani.

The statement further asserted that the RSF had downed a civilian MiG military aircraft.

Video footage released by the RSF showed their troops patrolling inside the military headquarters in the eastern part of the town.

According to eyewitnesses, the clashes erupted early Monday morning after the RSF reinforced their presence in eastern Madani with a large contingent of troops and armoured vehicles.

Violent battles erupted in the neighbourhoods of Al-Inqaz and Hantoub, where heavy artillery shelling was exchanged between the two sides. Simultaneously, the Sudanese army’s warplanes conducted intensive airstrikes against the RSF’s positions in eastern Madani.

In the afternoon, the RSF released videos showing their fighters inside Wed Madani.

Wad Madani Resistance Committees reported numerous civilian casualties as a result of the ongoing fighting and observed a steady stream of residents fleeing the city towards Sennar and Gedaref states.

RSF attack Rifa’a, committing violations

The RSF’s operations reached Rifa’a, a town 54 kilometres north of Wad Madani, where they reportedly engaged in widespread violations against civilians.

A statement issued by the Resistance Committees stated that the RSF stormed the town’s hospital and market, looted civilian vehicles, and seized money from homes.

Videos circulated on social media showed the field commander of the RSF, Abu Aqla Kikl, surrounded by his troops in Rifa’a, vowing to continue fighting Islamists and remnants of the former regime.

Eyewitnesses also reported RSF incursions into the Al-Junaid area, where they looted the assets of a sugar factory, arrested factory management staff, and forcibly robbed the homes of civilians.

(ST)