Siege of Babanusa

Siege of Babanusa
Part of the Sudanese civil war (2023–present)
Date Initial assault: 22 January – 5 February 2024 (2 weeks) Siege: 22 January 2024 - 21 June 2025 (1 year, 7 months, 1 week and 4 days) Location Babanusa, West Kordofan, Sudan Status SAF Victory SAF repels initial assault, controlling the city still [1] Artillery clashes on 6 May 2024 kills commanders from both sides [2] RSF still lays siege to the city, but major attacks have ceased. [3]
Belligerents
Sudanese Armed Forces	Rapid Support Forces
Commanders and leaders
Abdullah Muhammad al-Dagal  † Ibrahim al-Tom Jali  †	Abdel Rahim Daglo [4] Hamid Fadlallah  † Ibrahim al-Sharif  † Abdul-Rahman Difallah  †
Casualties and losses
Unknown	13 vehicles destroyed
100 killed 64,000 displaced [5] [6]

The siege of Babanusa is a siege of the Sudanese civil war. The siege started when fighting erupted between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) on 22 January 2024 near Babanusa. ^[7] As of March 2025, the city remains under siege by the RSF. ^[3]

Prelude

On 13 January 2024, the Sudanese Armed Forces launched airstrikes on the nearby city of El Tibbun. In retaliation, the Rapid Support Forces mobilized significant forces in various directions around Babanusa, including in El Tibbun, Samoaa in the southwest, and Muglad in the south. ^[8]

Siege

On 22 January 2024, the RSF launched an offensive with the aim of seizing control of the 22nd Infantry Division headquarters in Babanusa, West Kordofan. ^[9] The initial assault was successful for the RSF, capturing several police stations and also releasing videos of RSF soldiers inside of the 22nd Infantry Divisions headquarters, signaling its capture. Later counterattack attempts from the SAF succeeded and RSF forces were pushed out of the headquarters. ^[8]

A two-day ceasefire was held on 28 January by the Misseriya native administration to allow civilians to escape the conflict, however the fighting continued despite the ceasefire attempts. ^[8]

In an audio recording on 11 February, the head of the RSF, Hemedti, claimed victory in Babanusa and Omdurman. The Sudanese Army responded within a few hours denying this claim and accused Hemedti of "misinformation." The statement further claimed that the RSF suffered "heavy losses" in recent clashes with the army. The Sudanese Army released videos showing their troops in control of the Mohandiseen area and asserted that its forces controlled the Babanusa garrison. ^[10]

On 6 May, shelling in the city killed 2 SAF commanders and 3 RSF commanders, on the SAF side, Abdullah Muhammad al-Dagal and Ibrahim al-Tom Jail were killed, while on the RSF side, Hamid Fadlallah, Ibrahim al-Sharif, and Abdul-Rahman Difallah were killed in the shelling.

2025 Second attempt

A year later in June after no conflict, SAF launched airstrikes on the city and repelled another failed RSF invasion in the city. The airstrike destroyed 13 RSF combat vehicles while the RSF attack was from several directions and RSF withdrew after suffering many casualties. The RSF claimed that they were able to capture the headquarters but were forced to retreat again by the SAF. An RSF member recorded attacking the defenses until a landmine exploded and injured many of the surrounding soldiers. ^{[11] [12]}

Humanitarian impact

50 civilians died and significant property damage occurred due to the siege as of January 2024. ^{[13] [14]} Total casualties were reportedly 100 people. ^[8]

The siege escalated an already dire humanitarian crisis in Sudan, displacing another 45,000 people. ^{[13] [8]}

References

1. Rana (2024-01-26). "Sudan: The SAF Breaks the Siege". acleddata. Retrieved 2024-03-06.
2. Monitor, Sudan War. "Artillery battle in Babanusa as RSF threaten Fula". sudanwarmonitor.com.
3. "Sudan army chief vows to break RSF sieges in Darfur and Kordofan, rules out talks". Sudan Tribune. 29 March 2025. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
4. "Heavy fighting erupts between Sudanese army, RFS in West Kordofan's Babanusa". Sudan Tribune. 23 January 2024.
5. ACLED, Communications (16 February 2024). "February 2024 | Sudan: The SAF Breaks the Siege". ACLED.
6. "Displaced in Babanusa face hunger as Rapid Support Forces expand offensive in West Kordofan – Ayin network – شبكة عاين". 18 June 2024.
7. SudanTribune (2024-01-24). "Brutal fighting continues in W. Kordofan's Babanusa for third day". Sudan Tribune. Retrieved 2024-01-27.
8. ACLED, Communications (2024-02-16). "Sudan Situation Update: February 2024 | Sudan: The SAF Breaks the Siege". ACLED. Retrieved 2024-03-06.
9. Monitor, Sudan War. "Sudan army at risk of another disaster in Babanusa". sudanwarmonitor.com. Retrieved 2024-01-28.
10. "Sudanese army denies RSF leader claims of fresh victories". Sudan Tribune. 12 February 2024.
11. "SAF repels an attack on its headquarters in Babanusa, West Kordofan". Darfur24 News Website. 21 June 2025.
12. "Sudan's army launches air strikes on RSF in two Kordofan states". Sudan Tribune. 20 June 2025.
13. SudanTribune (2024-01-26). "Deadly clashes between Sudanese army and RSF continue in Kordofan's Babanusa". Sudan Tribune. Retrieved 2024-01-27.
14. SudanTribune (2024-01-24). "Brutal fighting continues in W. Kordofan's Babanusa for third day". Sudan Tribune. Retrieved 2024-01-28.