By HAN News Desk
KORDOFAN — The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have captured one of the Sudanese army’s largest military installations in West Kordofan, ending a siege that lasted more than two years and marking a major shift in the country’s ongoing civil war.
RSF fighters took control of the Sudan Armed Forces’ (SAF) 22nd Infantry Division headquarters in Babanusa after intense clashes around the base, residents said. Footage posted on RSF-linked channels appeared to show fighters celebrating inside the compound, though these claims have not been independently verified due to restricted access to the region.
The fall of Babanusa leaves the army holding only one significant position in West Kordofan — the strategic oil hub of Heglig near the South Sudan border. Heglig contains vital energy infrastructure and has been a long-standing flashpoint in Sudan–South Sudan relations, making its defense critical for the SAF.
Analysts say the loss of the Babanusa base further weakens the army’s grip on western and central Sudan and may disrupt its supply routes. The RSF has steadily expanded its territorial control since war broke out in April 2023, amid deep divisions within the military and growing local discontent.
Humanitarian agencies warn that the renewed fighting is worsening conditions for civilians in West Kordofan, where displacement, hunger, and shortages of medicine and fuel are rapidly escalating. International mediators have urged both sides to stop offensive operations, but ceasefire efforts have made little progress.
Sudan’s civil conflict, now nearing its third year, has killed thousands and forced millions from their homes, creating one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. The RSF’s latest advance underscores the shrinking territory under army control and the continued failure of peace efforts to halt the war.
