Wad Madani… Details of the Invasion and Liberation

Even the most pessimistic supporters of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), labeled as a terrorist militia, would not have believed that the army could storm and take control of Wad Madani in just a few hours. The militia and its supporters could not withstand the army’s might for long, as the army had already instilled fear into their hearts and every militia member in the Gezira State days earlier. With the army’s entry into the city, even some of the army’s supporters—who had been criticizing the slow pace of operations—were silenced.

What happened that led to the militia’s rapid collapse under the army’s strikes and its allied forces, such as Sudan Shield Forces, mobilized volunteers, and joint forces? To understand the events, one must look back at the operations and the army’s leadership, which manages its strategies like a chessboard, carefully studying each move. The militia’s frenzied operations and heavy gunfire proved futile in any battle—a fact the army recognized early on. Consequently, the army began draining the militia’s solid power by targeting combat vehicles, destroying supply and weapon depots, and delivering severe blows to militia leaders, starting with the militia’s leader, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti).

After a tight siege on the RSF from multiple fronts, the Sudanese Armed Forces and its allies succeeded on Saturday in taking control of Wad Madani, the capital of Gezira State. The militia had seized Madani in mid-December 2023, committing severe violations in the villages of the central state, including killings, rapes, forced displacements, and looting.

Videos shared by soldiers and allied fighters showed troops present in various locations in Wad Madani, including the First Division Headquarters, Nile Street, and the Heart Hospital. These sites are located east of the city, near the Hantoub Bridge, which a large contingent of Sudan Shield Forces and the army had crossed. Hundreds of residents gathered on the other side of Hantoub Bridge to welcome military reinforcements arriving steadily in Wad Madani after the forces had earlier taken control of towns in East Gezira on Saturday.

The army released a video showing soldiers stationed in front of the Heart Hospital, stating that the armed forces and other regular forces were steadily advancing in the “Wad Madani axis” and inflicting significant losses on the RSF. Sudan Shield Forces reported that their fighters, along with the army, joint armed movements, and the General Intelligence Service’s Operations Authority, successfully entered Wad Madani.

The forces also surrounded Um Al-Qura locality, a stronghold of the RSF, and reclaimed areas such as Wad Al-Abyad, Al-Awadia, Wad Al-Mahdi, and Hantoub before storming Wad Madani. Overwhelmed by the army and Sudan Shield Forces led by Abu Aqla Kilk, the RSF made no comment, seemingly in shock as its forces collapsed after over a year of controlling most areas in Gezira State.

The army’s movements last week disrupted the RSF’s operations, as a deliberate freeze in military actions by the army preceded a sudden and overwhelming attack from all directions. The army leaked information about Sudan Shield Forces advancing toward Um Al-Qura, prompting the RSF to withdraw some troops and redeploy them to the eastern axis of Um Al-Qura. By morning, the RSF was taken by surprise as armies approached from all sides. Unable to regroup or organize a counterattack, the militia collapsed.

The Sennar axis quickly capitalized on the RSF’s confusion. By dawn, the RSF found itself surrounded by advancing forces and unable to determine where to defend. This axis liberated Haj Abdullah in a four-hour battle, inflicting heavy losses on the RSF and positioning itself within striking distance of Wad Madani.

Meanwhile, the western axis advanced from Shaiqab and captured areas such as Mahla and Kamr Al-Ja’aleen before attacking the RSF at Kabri Bika.

The eastern axis, initially delayed due to heavy RSF focus on this front, launched a surprise maneuver under new leadership. It captured Rama, the RSF’s stronghold in East Gezira at Shabarqa. This daring operation by Sudan Shield Forces, led by Abu Aqla Kilk, distracted the RSF in Um Al-Qura, allowing the army to overrun Shabarqa, liberate Um Al-Qura and Wad Al-Mahdi, and converge with the Khiyari forces at Al-Araybab. Together, they advanced toward Wad Madani on Saturday, securing victory in a short timeframe.

Sources revealed that the army employed special operations before entering Madani, including parachute drops and deploying special forces via naval boats. These forces infiltrated through Nile Street, eliminated snipers, and neutralized high-rise positions with speed and precision. This paved the way for 11 army divisions to enter Madani, spreading joy across Sudan.

The armed forces and government spokesperson congratulated the nation on the victory. The army’s official statement confirmed their advance with determination to cleanse the country of the militia’s corruption.

Ironically, the same Abu Aqla Kilk who handed over Madani to the militia initially was pivotal in liberating it. A photo showed him saluting from the First Division Headquarters, reporting to the army chief, General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan.