Sudanese army claims capture of key eastern city from rebels

Sudan’s military says it has captured a key city in the country’s east, one of the biggest gains in the nearly two-year war against insurgents.

Social media footage showed people celebrating in the streets as the army entered the town of Wad Madani.

The commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti, acknowledged the loss in a voice message.

His admission was angry and shaky, leading to the defeat of the military’s air superiority and the use of Iranian-made drones.

But he vowed to continue fighting until victory, even if it took 20 years.

Wad Madani is the capital of Al Jazira government, and is 87 kilometers (140km) south of the country’s capital, Khartoum.

Clashes broke out between the army and the RSF in April 2023 after days of crisis in which RSF members were redeployed across the country in what the army saw as threats.

The war has killed thousands of people. And in what the United Nations has called the world’s “greatest displacement crisis,” nearly 9 million people have fled their homes.

The world too fall into starvationand 24.6 million people – almost half of the population – are in need of urgent food aid, experts said.

Earlier this month, the US recognized the leader of the RSF Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo later he accused the group of committing genocide.

Officials said he was being punished for his role in brutalizing the Sudanese people during the 20-month war.