Baw, January 26 (Darfur24)
An alliance of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement–North (SPLM-N) launched coordinated attacks on Malkin and Al-Silak areas in Baw locality, Blue Nile region, on Sunday, triggering widespread displacement and disrupting daily life, sources said.
Sources told Darfur24 that RSF and SPLM-N forces carried out simultaneous assaults on Malkin, Al-Silak, and Military Area No. 4 (Rum), west of Baw locality. They reported that the attacking forces took control of Baw and Malkin, while RSF fighters circulated videos claiming control of buildings in Baw, the Malkin area, and the military base in Al-Silak.
In contrast, a military source from the Sudanese army told Darfur24 that government forces had repelled the attack. Darfur24 was unable to independently verify the control situation on the ground.
The RSF and the SPLM-N faction led by Joseph Tuka control limited border areas in southern Blue Nile, adjacent to Ethiopia and South Sudan.
Baw locality holds strategic importance due to its geographic position linking Damazin, the regional capital, with Al-Tadamun and Al-Kurmuk localities.
Residents in Baw told Darfur24 that the attack caused widespread panic, particularly among women, children, and the elderly, as heavy shelling and sudden clashes forced civilians to endure hours of fear and uncertainty.
They said humanitarian conditions in Malkin and Al-Silak have rapidly deteriorated, with most families fleeing their homes without belongings, carrying only essential items in an attempt to escape the fighting.
Large numbers of residents reportedly fled to areas considered safer, while others sought refuge in forests and neighboring villages.
Displaced families are facing severe shortages of food and drinking water, an almost total absence of health services, and difficulty accessing treatment facilities due to ongoing insecurity, residents said.
Local sources added that livelihoods have been affected, as agricultural activities have stopped, markets have closed, and commercial movement has largely come to a standstill, deepening the hardship faced by civilians.