Sudan Military Reclaims Strategic City Amid Humanitarian Crisis

The Sudanese military has recently regained control of Wad Madani, a key city approximately 150 kilometers southeast of Khartoum, in a significant development in the ongoing conflict that has persisted for nearly two years. The city was previously held by the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has faced accusations of committing genocide in the region. The U.S. government officially categorized the violent acts in Darfur as genocide earlier this month, prompting sanctions against RSF leader Mohammed Hamdan Daglo and several companies alleged to be supporting RSF activities.

Wad Madani is strategically important as it sits at the intersection of vital supply routes connecting multiple states and was recognized as Sudan's breadbasket during peacetime. Regaining control of the city marks the military's most notable achievement since the outbreak of hostilities began.

As fighting escalates, over 12 million people have been displaced within Sudan and across neighboring countries, leading to what the United Nations describes as one of the worst humanitarian crises worldwide. Recent reports indicate that nearly half of Sudan's population, approximately 25 million people, face food insecurity, with many suffering from acute and chronic hunger.

Both the Sudanese military and the RSF have been implicated in committing atrocities, with intense violence reported in Darfur, where members of rival ethnic groups have been targeted. The conflict originated from power struggles between military general Abdelfatah Burhan and RSF leader Daglo, following a coup in 2019 that ousted longtime ruler Omar al-Bashir.

Experts predict that fighting may now shift further toward Khartoum as the military seeks to consolidate its recent gains.