Sudan's army says it has retaken the town of Khor Hassan in southeastern Blue Nile state from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), marking a significant development in the strategic border region that connects Sudan to Ethiopia.
The Sudanese army announced Friday that it had seized Khor Hassan from RSF forces and claimed to have inflicted heavy losses on the paramilitary group in both personnel and military equipment. The town had been under RSF control since March, when the group captured it with support from its ally, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N).
Blue Nile state has emerged as a critical flashpoint in Sudan's civil war due to its strategic geography as a gateway to central Sudan. Control of the state gives either side a greater chance of advancing into the country's central regions, making territorial gains there particularly significant for the broader conflict.
The state's location along the Ethiopian border adds another layer of complexity to the fighting. Sudan's government has accused Ethiopia, alongside the United Arab Emirates, of backing the RSF — allegations both countries deny. The proximity to Ethiopia makes Blue Nile a potential corridor for resupply operations and cross-border movements that could influence the war's trajectory.
According to reports, the army's capture of Khor Hassan is part of a broader strategy to retake the town of Kurmuk, located near the Ethiopian border. Kurmuk serves as a vital corridor for cross-border trade and provides access to key infrastructure, including the Al-Roseires Dam. The RSF has been using Kurmuk as a garrison town and launchpad for territorial expansion.
The battle for Blue Nile carries implications beyond Sudan's borders. Al Jazeera correspondent Hiba Morgan, reporting from the state, explained that:
"the outcome of the battle for Blue Nile state would be significant because the area provides the RSF with a route to resupply its forces due to its location along the border"
The strategic importance of Blue Nile extends to its natural resource wealth, particularly large gold deposits that could help finance whichever faction controls them. This economic dimension adds to the military and geographic factors making the state a prize for both sides.
The fighting in Blue Nile reflects the broader Horn of Africa security challenges created by Sudan's civil war. The conflict began in April 2023 following a power struggle between Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who heads the national army, and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (known as Hemedti), who commands the RSF.
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Since the war's outbreak, more than 150,000 people have been killed and more than 12 million have been displaced, creating one of the world's largest humanitarian crises. The fighting has destabilized not just Sudan but the entire region, affecting trade routes, refugee flows, and security arrangements across the Horn of Africa.
The Ethiopian border dimension adds regional complexity to the conflict. Cross-border trade through towns like Kurmuk has historically been vital for both countries' economies. The disruption of these commercial links affects Ethiopian access to Sudanese markets and ports, while also impacting Sudan's ability to trade with its eastern neighbor.
Refugee movements across the Sudan-Ethiopia border have also intensified as the civil war has spread to border states like Blue Nile. Ethiopian authorities have had to manage increased displacement pressures while navigating accusations of involvement in the conflict.
The RSF's use of Blue Nile as a supply route highlights the transnational nature of Sudan's conflict. The state's border location makes it attractive for groups seeking to move personnel, weapons, or resources across international boundaries. This dynamic has implications for regional security architecture and the ability of neighboring countries to maintain border integrity.
For Ethiopia specifically, instability in Blue Nile affects border security calculations and economic relationships. The Al-Roseires Dam, which the army is seeking to secure through its Kurmuk strategy, is part of Nile River infrastructure that connects to broader regional water and energy considerations.
The involvement of the SPLM-N alongside the RSF also reflects the complex alliance structures that have emerged in Sudan's civil war. These partnerships often transcend ethnic and regional boundaries, creating new political configurations that could outlast the current conflict.
Whether the army can hold Khor Hassan and advance toward Kurmuk will test both sides' capacity to control territory in this strategically vital region. The outcome will influence not just the military balance within Sudan, but also the broader security dynamics of the Horn of Africa, where conflicts in one country increasingly spill across borders to affect regional stability.
