Residents of Damazin, the capital of Sudan’s Blue Nile Region, are increasingly anxious amid rapidly unfolding military and security developments, reports of advances by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their ally, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, under the Tasis alliance, and recent drone strikes on the city.
The developments have raised concerns about the security situation in Damazin and the possibility of fighting spreading to new areas, as residents grapple with uncertainty and conflicting reports about the military situation.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, Samer Ali said living conditions and access to essential services had deteriorated significantly, with electricity and water supplies disrupted and grain mills forced to shut down.
“The security situation is unstable, and some residents have fled the city while others remained,” he said. “Some families are torn between leaving Damazin and staying, given the lack of reliable information about what lies ahead.”
“The situation is unstable, and no one knows where events are heading,” Ali added.
However, another resident, Mohamed al-Tayyib, offered a contrasting assessment, describing the city as calm and secure and urging residents to disregard what he called rumours and misinformation.
“I am confident that the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) will regain control of areas it has lost and I would like to reassure residents of Blue Nile and Sudanese citizens more broadly that the situation in Damazin remains under control,” he said.
According to al-Tayyib, markets, schools and government institutions were operating normally, with no reason for residents to be afraid.
Another resident, Fathia al-Toum, however, painted a bleaker picture, describing the security situation as dire.
She said large numbers of residents had left the city, but those able to afford the journey were the ones who had managed to flee, leaving low-income families behind.
“May God see us through,” she said.
The growing anxiety comes amid continued military confrontations across several localities in Blue Nile Region, particularly Kurmuk, Geissan and Wad al-Mahi, alongside battlefield developments in Sali, Bakouri and, more recently, the Magja area of Bau locality.
Reports of military movements towards other areas have added to the uncertainty. Recent drone strikes on residential neighborhoods in Damazin, which caused deaths and injuries, have further heightened fears of an expanding conflict and growing risks to civilians.
Damage to the city’s electricity substation and the resulting power outages have compounded concerns about the impact of military operations on civilian areas.
In response to mounting public anxiety, the Blue Nile Regional Government issued a statement urging residents not to be swayed by rumors or information from unidentified sources.
The government said it was closely monitoring military and security developments in coordination with the relevant authorities.
Nevertheless, the official reassurances have raised questions about the availability of credible information, the extent to which residents are being kept informed of battlefield developments, and the measures being taken to protect civilians and maintain stability in the city.
Civil society activist Ayman Abdallah told this publication that residents were living in a state of apprehension, fearing that the fighting could reach Damazin.
He called on the relevant authorities to provide the public with accurate, reliable information about the security situation across the region and to take adequate measures to protect civilians.
Abdallah also stressed the need to enable residents to prepare for potential developments, including further waves of displacement.
Caught between intensifying military operations and official assurances, Damazin residents remain uncertain about the region’s security outlook, amid growing calls for reliable information, stronger civilian protection measures and efforts to prevent the population from being exposed to the dangers of armed conflict.
The concerns follow escalating military operations in Sali, north of Kurmuk, and Bakouri in Geissan locality, as well as developments in Wad al-Mahi and other parts of Blue Nile Region.
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