SAF Repel UAE Militia Attack on Babnousa

The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) announced on Sunday that they had repelled an attack launched by the United Arab Emirates (UAE)-backed Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia on the headquarters of the 22nd Infantry Division in Babnousa — the army’s main base in West Kordofan State.

The militia has been besieging Babnousa from all directions since January 2024, after launching a series of violent assaults aimed at seizing control of the army’s command in the area.

These attempts, however, have failed amid fierce resistance from the Sudanese Armed Forces.

Throughout September and October, the army’s air force continued to airdrop military supplies, medicine, and food to its troops stationed in Babnousa — a move widely interpreted as preparation for potential renewed clashes.

In a statement, the Morale and Services Division of the 22nd Infantry said: “The attack began in the early hours of the morning using drones and heavy bombardment, but the armed forces dealt with it with high professionalism and efficiency.”

The statement added that the SAF successfully repelled the attackers and inflicted heavy losses on the militia, confirming the death of the attack’s field commander, Major General Mohamed Salih, and the killing and wounding of several RSF fighters. It stressed that the armed forces remain firmly in control of their positions and maintain full control of the situation.

The division’s command affirmed that the security situation in Babnousa is stable, reassuring citizens that the 22nd Infantry Division remains Sudan’s steadfast shield and defender of its western borders, according to the statement.

The renewed assault on Babnousa comes after the militia dispatched major reinforcements from the Darfur region in late October, in an apparent bid to seize the army’s last stronghold in West Kordofan.

Currently, the RSF controls most parts of West Kordofan — including the state capital Al-Fula, as well as the towns of Al-Mujlad, Al-Meiram, Lagawa, Al-Khuwai, An-Nuhud, and Wad Banda — while the army holds Babnousa and several nearby oilfields in Heglig, near the border with South Sudan.