PORT SUDAN – The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) said on Monday that they had taken control of the areas of Maqjah and Sorkom along the Blue Nile axis after clashes with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), as military operations continued in the region.

Military spokesperson Major Ali Awad Ali said troops from the Fourth Infantry Division, backed by supporting forces, captured the two areas following what he described as heavy fighting with RSF forces.

He said the army inflicted heavy losses on the RSF in personnel and equipment and was continuing clearance operations to secure the areas, pursue remaining fighters and prevent any attempts to regroup.

The statement said troops were also expanding their deployment to restore security and stabilize the newly captured areas.

The SAF has recently announced a series of territorial gains in Blue Nile State, where fighting has intensified alongside operations in Kordofan and Darfur as both sides seek to strengthen their positions.

The war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, which erupted in April 2023, has triggered one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises, displacing millions of people and devastating large parts of the country’s infrastructure. Independent verification of battlefield claims by either side remains difficult because of restricted access to conflict areas.