KHARTOUM / Adel Abdel Rahim / Anadolu

The city of Damazin, capital of Blue Nile state in southeastern Sudan, witnessed mass celebrations on Wednesday after the army announced it had regained control of the strategic city of Kurmuk from the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N).

Thousands of citizens took to the streets of Damazin chanting pro-army slogans and praising the 'glory of Sudan,' while vehicles honked their horns in celebration of what they described as the armed forces' victory in Kurmuk, according to Anadolu's correspondent.

Blue Nile Governor Ahmed Al-Omda and commander of the 4th Infantry Division, Major General Ismail Al-Tayeb, paraded through the city streets in an open car, greeted by a popular reception with ululations.

In a speech to the crowd, Al-Omda said the recapture of Kurmuk represents a 'great victory,' congratulating the armed forces and the 4th Infantry Division on the 'liberation of the city.'

For his part, Kurmuk Commissioner Abdelati Mohamed Al-Faki affirmed readiness for the return of citizens to the city, saying: 'Committees will be formed to work on rehabilitating the infrastructure and services after they were subjected to destruction.'

In a statement, the army's 4th Infantry Division said its forces, 'after well-planned combat operations,' managed to impose control over Kurmuk 'after routing the hostile elements affiliated with the Rapid Support Forces militia and allied forces,' as part of operations aimed at extending state sovereignty and securing the border strip.

It added that Kurmuk holds strategic importance as one of the border cities with Ethiopia, 'making its securing an important step in protecting the borders and preventing any threats to the nation's security and stability.'

Earlier on Wednesday, the Sudanese army announced it had recaptured Kurmuk and imposed its control over the city.

Military sources also told Anadolu that army forces entered the city adjacent to the Ethiopian border after battles with the Rapid Support Forces and the SPLM-N, which is allied with the latter.

These developments come after progress made by the army in recent weeks in Blue Nile state, where it regained control of several areas in the state bordering Ethiopia and South Sudan.

Kurmuk is one of the largest cities in Blue Nile state after Damazin, located near the Ethiopian border, and holds strategic importance as it controls supply lines and military communication, in addition to being linked to land routes extending toward Ethiopia and South Sudan.

On March 24, 2026, the Rapid Support Forces and the SPLM-N took control of the city.

The Sudanese army maintains control over large parts of Blue Nile state, while the SPLM-N has been fighting the government since 2011, demanding self-rule for the regions of South Kordofan and Blue Nile.

Since April 2023, the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces have been engaged in a war that has left tens of thousands dead and displaced about 13 million people, according to UN estimates, and has exacerbated one of the 'world's worst humanitarian crises.'