Sudan War: Army Denies RSF Capture of Strategic Babnusa as Conflict Deepens

Sudan’s civil war continues to intensify as the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) battle for control over key regions. This week, tensions rose again after the RSF claimed it had captured Babnusa, a strategically important city in the West Kordofan region. The SAF quickly rejected the claim, calling it “false propaganda” designed to mislead the public and weaken national morale.

The conflicting statements highlight a growing pattern in Sudan’s war—both sides fighting not only on the ground but also through information warfare. As the struggle enters another brutal phase, millions of Sudanese people are left caught between competing narratives and escalating violence.




A City With Critical Importance

Babnusa is not just another town on the war map. It sits at a crucial crossroads connecting Kordofan’s agricultural heartland with vital transportation routes used for trade, fuel supply, and military movement. Control over Babnusa could offer a significant military advantage, enabling the controlling side to block supply lines or expand operations deeper into Kordofan and Darfur.

The RSF’s claim of seizing the city, if true, would mark one of its most substantial territorial gains in recent months. However, the Sudanese military adamantly denied this, saying troops “remain fully in control” and that any clashes in the area were “minor skirmishes exaggerated for political impact.”




Information Warfare: A Second Battlefield

With Sudan’s communication systems heavily damaged and international media access severely restricted, verifying battlefield claims has become extremely difficult. Both sides rely on social media updates, spokesperson statements, and local networks to shape public perception.

Analysts say this information battle is now a major component of the conflict. Controlling the narrative can boost fighters' morale, influence international attention, and sway local populations to support one side over the other.

In this environment, Babnusa has become more than a physical battleground—it is a symbol of whichever force appears stronger at any given moment.




Humanitarian Crisis Deepens

While the military factions trade claims, Sudanese civilians continue to suffer the most. West Kordofan, already struggling with food shortages and disrupted farming, faces new waves of displacement as families flee uncertainty around Babnusa.

Aid agencies report that:

Roads into the region are unsafe due to ongoing clashes

Food supplies are becoming scarce

Medical facilities lack basic equipment and medicines

Families are walking for days to reach safer towns


Despite the dire situation, humanitarian access remains extremely limited, with both sides accused of obstructing relief efforts

A Long War With No Clear End

The Sudan war began in April 2023 when tensions between the SAF and RSF exploded into full-scale conflict. What started as a power struggle between two rival generals—Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti)—has turned into one of the world’s biggest displacement crises.

More than 10 million people have been forced from their homes, and vast regions of the country have been reduced to rubble. The fall of major cities such as Khartoum, Nyala, and El Geneina to RSF forces has shifted the balance of power repeatedly over the past two years.

Now, with Babnusa becoming a contested point, it is clear that neither side is prepared to negotiate or slow military operations.




Why the World Should Pay Attention

Sudan's conflict poses risks beyond its borders. Continued instability threatens:

Regional security, especially in Chad, South Sudan, and Ethiopia

Oil supply routes, as pipelines pass through West Kordofan

Refugee pressures, with neighboring countries already overwhelmed

The African food supply, due to disruptions in Sudan’s agricultural zones


Yet, despite its scale, Sudan’s war remains one of the most underreported global crises.



What Lies Ahead for Babnusa and Sudan

As of now, Sudanese civilians can only wait for clarity—whether Babnusa has truly fallen or whether the SAF will maintain control. What remains certain is that the battle for territory, power, and influence will continue to intensify in the months ahead.

With each new claim and counterclaim, the human cost grows. Until meaningful negotiations begin, Sudan will continue to face displacement, hunger, and instability.

For now, Babnusa stands as a symbol of a war with no winners—only victims.