Sudanese Military Retakes Strategic City Amid Ongoing Genocide Claims

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The Sudanese military has recaptured the strategically significant city of Wad Madani from the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF), marking a potential turning point in nearly two years of brutal conflict. The United States has formally classified the atrocities occurring in the Darfur region as genocide, prompting heightened international scrutiny.

Located approximately 150 kilometers southeast of Khartoum, Wad Madani is critical as it connects essential supply routes between various states and serves as the capital of Gezira state, historically known as the "breadbasket" of Sudan. The military's recent victory is its most substantial since the outbreak of war and could shift the focus of conflict towards the capital.

RSF leader Mohammed Hamdan Daglo, known as Hemeti, acknowledged the loss in an audio message but expressed determination to reclaim the city. This defeat for the RSF comes just over a year after they initially seized Wad Madani, causing significant displacement and unrest across the country.

The conflict has led to the forced migration of over twelve million people, with nearly twenty-five million—approximately half of Sudan's population—facing food insecurity. According to recent United Nations reports, 70 to 80 percent of hospitals in conflict-affected areas are non-operational, contributing to the escalating humanitarian crisis.

Both the Sudanese military and RSF have been accused of committing war crimes, with the most intense violence reported in Darfur, where rival ethnic groups have been targeted. The U.S. government has imposed sanctions on Daglo and several companies in the United Arab Emirates for their involvement in supporting the RSF, particularly through gold smuggling used to fund their military efforts.

The continuing strife in Sudan stems from a power struggle between military general Abdelfatah Burhan and RSF leader Daglo, following their rise to power after the ousting of former ruler Omar al-Bashir in 2019. Their alliance has since fractured, igniting a violent battle for supremacy.

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