Battle of Wad Madani

Overview

The Battle of Wad Madani was a battle in the Sudanese civil war over the control of Wad Madani, the capital of Gezira State in east-central Sudan, between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The initial battle ended with the RSF capturing the town on 19 December 2023. The Sudanese Armed Forces retook control of the town on 11 January 2025.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The Battle of Wad Madani determined control of Wad Madani, the capital of Gezira State in east-central Sudan, and stood as a significant contest between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) during the 2023 Sudanese civil war. The RSF captured the town in December 2023, extending its reach into east-central Sudan and threatening SAF's hold over a strategically positioned state capital. The fall of Wad Madani was accompanied by a massive displacement crisis, with figures in the range of 250,000 to 300,000 casualties or displaced persons recorded on the SAF side, underlining the scale of human cost associated with the RSF's advance. The SAF subsequently retook the town in January 2025, marking a reversal of RSF gains in Gezira State and reflecting the fluid, contested nature of territorial control that has characterized the broader civil war.

Forces & casualties

Commanders (2)