Africa-Press. The head of the Sudanese army’s General Staff, Yasser Al-Atta, pledged to continue military operations in the upcoming phase “without interruption,” announcing that forces would move towards the Darfur region, at a time when the fronts in Blue Nile, Kordofan, and Darfur are witnessing simultaneous military escalation.
Al-Atta stated, during his inspection of forces from the 14th Brigade, special forces, and the operations authority, that the movement would include stationed units and forces present on the front lines, emphasizing that the army’s goal is to protect civilians, not to seek revenge.
He added that the army intends to head to Darfur, accusing the Rapid Support Forces of carrying out killings based on ethnicity and recruiting children in several areas.
Al-Atta’s statements come amid increasing military preparations along the Kordofan axes, after the army regained areas in northern Kordofan over the past months and expanded its aerial and drone operations against positions of the Rapid Support Forces, in an effort to open routes towards Darfur.
Displacement in Blue Nile
Humanitarianly, the United Nations announced that around 22,000 people may have been displaced over the past seven days from Qusain locality in Blue Nile state due to escalating fighting, noting that a large number of them sought refuge in schools or moved to other areas, including the state capital, Damazin.
The state has witnessed renewed escalation following attacks carried out by the Rapid Support Forces and the allied Sudan People’s Liberation Movement – North on several areas, while the Qusain emergency room reported the displacement of about 20,000 people from the “City 12” area alone.
In northern Kordofan, the United Nations reported casualties and civilian displacement due to attacks on villages north and northwest of Al-Obeid, in addition to the displacement of about 450 people due to the deteriorating security situation.
The United Nations also reported casualties from an airstrike targeting a fuel market in Adikong in West Darfur state near the border with Chad, reiterating its call for all parties in the conflict to protect civilians and civilian facilities and to respect international humanitarian law.
