The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) announced on Monday evening that they had taken “full control” of the strategic town of Babnousa in West Kordofan, despite ongoing international efforts to impose a political and humanitarian truce.

In a statement, the RSF said its forces had “liberated the Babnousa area in West Kordofan,” describing it as one of the newest frontlines in the war. The group claimed the advance came after it repelled a “surprise attack” by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), which it accused of committing a “clear violation of the humanitarian truce.”

The reported seizure of Babnousa comes in the wake of the RSF’s capture of El Fasher in October, a takeover that was followed by extensive documentation of war crimes and grave abuses, triggering widespread condemnation.

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SAF denies RSF claims

The SAF dismissed the RSF’s announcement as part of what they described as a broader pattern of “misleading international, regional, and local public opinion.” In a statement, the army accused the RSF of continuing to attack Babnousa on a daily basis with artillery fire and drones, despite having publicly declared a unilateral ceasefire. According to the SAF, its forces repelled a new RSF attack on the town.

The army further claimed that the truce announced by RSF commander Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, was merely a “political and media maneuver” intended to obscure the group’s field movements and to mask what it described as “ongoing Emirati support” fueling the conflict. The SAF reiterated its commitment to international humanitarian law, the protection of civilians, and the facilitation of humanitarian operations.

The latest flare-up comes amid renewed attempts to revive diplomacy. On November 19, the so-called Quad, composed of the United States, the UAE, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, proposed a three-month ceasefire followed by peace negotiations. However, neither side has demonstrated willingness to halt military operations, with both the RSF and the army intensifying offensives across several regions.

The conflict in Sudan, now entering its second year, has displaced millions, devastated essential services, and triggered one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. The battle for West Kordofan, a region with key transport routes and vital infrastructure, is expected to further complicate efforts to stabilize the country.

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