Sudanese Armed Forces and RSF Clash Over Strategic Geissan

The Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) clashed on August 11, 2026, in the town of Geissan, located in Blue Nile state near the Ethiopian border. The RSF, allied with a faction of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North led by Abdelaziz Al-Hilu, launched an attack targeting the town and nearby farms.

Conflicting reports emerged regarding the outcome of the battle. The Sudanese Armed Forces stated it repelled the assault and inflicted heavy losses on the attackers. Conversely, the RSF's self-declared government claimed it "liberated the strategic city of Geissan" and caused significant casualties among army troops.

Sudanese military sources alleged the attack originated from within Ethiopian territory, though the Government of Ethiopia has previously denied such claims. The fighting in Blue Nile state is part of a broader RSF effort to challenge army control in southeastern Sudan, a conflict that has displaced approximately 60,000 people this year.