SAF recaptures Sennar State capital, Sinja

PORT SUDAN – The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) launched a successful military operation early Saturday, reclaiming the strategic city of Sinja, capital of Sennar State, from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The RSF had held the city since June 29.

Sinja, home to the 17^th Infantry Division, is a crucial stronghold. Its recapture significantly weakens the RSF’s foothold in central Sudan and reduces the threat of their expansion into neighboring Blue Nile State.

Eyewitnesses reported that SAF troops, advancing from Al-Suki northeast of Sinja, reached Al-Wadaes bridge southeast of the city on Friday evening. The final assault on Sinja commenced at dawn on Saturday.

Videos circulating online show senior SAF commanders, including Major General Abdel Basset Abdel Moneim, the Sennar operation commander, inside the headquarters of the 17th Infantry Division in Sinja.

The SAF confirmed its victory over the RSF in a statement released Saturday morning, just after the entry of the forces into Sinja. It declared that its forces had successfully secured the 17^th Infantry Division headquarters.

In a defiant tone, the SAF vowed to continue its offensive against the RSF, labeling them as “terrorist rebels” and “Janjaweed.”

“The Sudanese Armed Forces and other regular forces [are] within the headquarters of the 17^th Infantry Division in Singa city on the road to liberating the entire homeland from the terrorist rebel Rapid Support Militia (Janjaweed) in fulfillment of the promise and covenant,” the SAF said in a statement seen by Sudans Post.

By mid-morning, SAF forces had pushed through the livestock market south of Sinja and entered the city center by 10:40 AM local time, according to eyewitnesses.

A small group of RSF fighters reportedly remained near the 67^th Brigade headquarters south of the city or fled southward to the 66^th Infantry Brigade at Mazmum, which the paramilitary group captured from the SAF on July 4.

Celebrations broke out in various cities of Sudan, including neighboring Sennar State, where the state government has operated from since the RSF capture of Sinja. Demonstrations in Sennar, Kassala, and Shendi in Northern State chanted the pro-SAF slogan, “One Army, One People.”

The Sudanese army commander-in-chief, General Abdelfattah Al Burhan, who is also the de facto leader of the war-torn country, quickly rushed to Sennar and was expected to address SAF troops in the city to boost morale.