General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Chairman of Sudan’s Sovereign Council and Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), conducted an operational inspection of military units on Wednesday in Damazin, the capital of southeastern Blue Nile state.
During his visit to the headquarters of the SAF’s 4th Infantry Division, Burhan reviewed troop readiness, assessed battlefield progress, and received operational briefings from senior commanders. Addressing military personnel, Burhan underscored the imperative to maintain strict discipline, heighten combat vigilance, and execute operational directives to counter ongoing threats across the region. As part of the inspection, he also visited the Damazin military hospital to assess the care provided to wounded service members.
The commander of the 4th Infantry Division, Major General Ismail al-Tayeb, stated that Burhan’s presence bolstered morale, reaffirming that division forces remain fully prepared to secure the region and protect local populations.
Burhan’s visit comes amid a rapid escalation of hostilities across Blue Nile state, where the SAF is confronting joint offensives by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the allied Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N):
* Reinforcements Deployed: On Tuesday, the first contingent of the Joint Force—comprising allied armed movements—arrived in Damazin to bolster SAF defensive and counter-offensive operations.
* Intelligence Brigade Integration: The SAF previously deployed an elite General Intelligence Service (GIS) brigade to the Bakori tactical axis following intense clashes.
* Territorial Loss Claims: The RSF claimed last Friday to have captured strategic military posts at Bakori and Sarkam, located southeast of Damazin.
* Air Defense Interceptions: Military officials confirmed downing a third cross-border "hostile" drone within a one-week span, claiming the unmanned aircraft entered Sudanese airspace from neighboring Ethiopia.
The conflict between the SAF and RSF—which broke out in April 2023—continues to expand across Blue Nile, the Kordofan states, and Darfur, causing tens of thousands of deaths and displacing an estimated 13 million people.
