Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) say they have seized control of Geissan, a strategic town in Blue Nile State near the Ethiopian border, but the Sudanese army disputes the claim, saying fighting is continuing and its forces still hold a key military position. The latest clashes have forced about 2,500 people, or roughly 500 families, to flee Geissan, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Some residents have reportedly crossed into Ethiopia to escape the violence. The RSF and its allies, including fighters from the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), launched the latest assault on Tuesday. The area has already experienced repeated fighting this year as the RSF and allied forces seek to expand their presence in southeastern Blue Nile.
Geissan is strategically important because of its location near the Ethiopian border and routes leading toward the Roseires Dam, a major source of hydroelectric power and irrigation for Sudan. Control of the area could also strengthen the RSF’s supply and movement networks. The renewed fighting comes during the agricultural harvest season, raising concerns about food supplies and livelihoods in communities already affected by displacement. Local reports have accused armed groups of looting crops and markets, although the claims have not been independently verified. The wider Blue Nile region has suffered significant displacement since the war between the Sudanese army and RSF began in April 2023. IOM estimated that nearly 60,000 people had been displaced from locations across Blue Nile State between January and May 2026, including more than 10,000 from Geissan locality.
The conflict has increasingly drawn regional concerns. Sudan has accused Ethiopia of allowing military support allegedly destined for the RSF to pass through its territory, while Ethiopia has denied involvement. The battle for Geissan comes as Sudan’s army makes gains in other parts of the country, particularly in areas around Kordofan. Analysts say the RSF’s renewed operations in Blue Nile could help stretch government forces and open another front in the country’s prolonged war. Sudan’s conflict, now in its fourth year, has displaced millions of people and created one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises.
