Sudanese Armed Forces recaptures key city of Wad Madani

Sudan Witness has verified footage showing the moment the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) advanced into Wad Madani, the capital of Gezira.

The SAF retook Wad Madani on 11 January, marking a significant military gain in the conflict. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched a major assault on the city on 19 December 2023 and had maintained control since. Wad Madani is a site of strategic importance in the conflict, with highways leading to several states in Sudan, including Khartoum.

As detailed below, Sudan Witness verified three videos that emerged on social media at the time of the takeover. All of the videos were posted to pro–SAF Telegram channels on 12 January, showing the moments the army advanced into the city, entering the city from the west. Another piece of footage showed the SAF advance further into Wad Madani’s centre, along with bodies of apparent RSF combatants lying on the ground.

In the first video, a pro-SAF Telegram channel posted footage showing a convoy of SAF vehicles driving through a checkpoint 8 km northwest from the city centre (figure 1).

Figure 1: Geolocation of footage showing SAF fighters advancing from the western road leading into Wad Madani on 11 January [14.41734105,33.45295822] (sources: Telegram and Google Earth)

The second video, posted to another pro-SAF Telegram channel, shows SAF soldiers in the aftermath of the fighting next to the Martyr Mohsen Faisal Roundabout, 4 km northwest of the city centre. The caption of the post reads that the footage shows “corpses of the tweezers,” a term that the SAF uses to refer to the RSF. Burning vehicles can be seen, as SAF soldiers celebrate nearby (figure 2).

Figure 2: Geolocation of footage showing SAF celebrating at the Martyr Mohsen Faisal roundabout in Wad Madani on 11 January [14.42684669,33.50056631] (sources: Telegram and Google Earth)

A third pro-SAF Telegram channel posted a video showing fighters inside a military base. Sudan Witness verified the footage and confirmed that SAF fighters advanced into the 1st Infantry Division base in central Wad Madani (figure 3). The fighters in the footage are seen celebrating as gunfire is heard in the background. The fighters appear to be relaxed, which suggests that they are no longer fighting.

Figure 3: Geolocation of footage showing SAF fighters inside the 1st Infantry Division base in central Wad Madani [14.39919642,33.53190735] (sources: Telegram and Google Earth)

Sudan Witness verified that the deputy leader of the SAF, Shams Eldin Kabbashi, visited Wad Madani following the take over, based on a video shared by a pro-SAF Telegram channel on 13 January. In the video, Kabbashi can be seen holding a speech in which he claims that the SAF will retreat from the area to focus on fighting in Khartoum. This could draw the attention of the RSF, who might try to recapture the capital after the SAF’s departure. Sudan Witness also identified a video posted by the same pro-SAF account allegedly showing SAF Major General Abdelmoneim Abdelbasit Mohamed inside the 1st infantry division base. However, this could not yet be verified at the time of writing.

Both the SAF and RSF have released official statements relating to the takeover. On 11 January, the official X account for the SAF posted a statement claiming victory in Wad Madani, while RSF General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo posted a speech to Telegram conceding defeat in Wad Madani. He blamed “Iranian drones” and “Tigrayan mercenaries” for assisting the SAF. Sudan Witness has not yet seen evidence for either of Dagalo’s claims.

Sudan Witness has archived information, including videos and photos, indicating there may have been violence against unarmed people in civilian clothing. Our team is continuing to monitor and document further footage coming out of Wad Madani.