RSF-Led Alliance Claims Capture of Strategic Sudanese City Near Ethiopian Border

Sudan's Tasis Alliance, of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), announced that its troops have seized the strategic city of Qeissan in the Blue Nile state, southeastern Sudan after fierce fighting with the army. The development marks a new shift on a front that has seen intensifying combat for months. It comes weeks after government forces advanced in southern Blue Nile and recaptured the nearby border city of Kurmuk and other positions. The Sudan Founding Alliance, known as Tasis, brings together the RSF, led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti; the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), led by Abdelaziz al-Hilu; other armed Darfuri groups; and political and civilian forces. In a statement Tuesday, Tasis forces announced they had taken "full control" of Qeissan, about 170 kilometers southeast of Blue Nile's capital, Damazin, and seized all military positions inside the city, along with large quantities of weapons and equipment that were still being inventoried. The alliance said it was pursuing retreating army units and inflicting losses in personnel and equipment, without providing figures. The army had not confirmed or denied losing the city by the time of publication, while no independent estimates of casualties were available. Field sources reported that fierce clashes were continuing in several areas of Qeissan and that the situation on the ground was changing rapidly. Qeissan is strategically important because of its location near the Ethiopian border and along an area that has become a battleground for control of key movement and supply routes. Control of southern Blue Nile has shifted several times in recent months. Tasis captured Kurmuk in March before the army launched counteroffensives in July, retaking the city and other positions and expanding its control near the Ethiopian border. Qeissan has repeatedly changed hands during Sudan's past conflicts. It had remained under army control since war broke out between the military and the RSF on April 15, 2023, with ground fighting largely bypassing the area during the first two years.