Heavy combat erupted on Thursday in the Jabal Moya region of southeast Sennar state between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Following the clash, both sides declared victory.
Army officers claimed to have retaken the strategic peak, which overlooks critical roadways connecting Sennar to neighboring states.
However, the RSF disputed the claim, stating that it inflicted heavy casualties and repelled the army’s offensive.“Our forces took complete control of the Jabal Moya al-Mahatta area,” an army source told Sudanese Journal.
He added that the army had established “major checkpoints” about 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the main summit.
Social media videos appeared to show army troops celebrating on the mountain after capturing RSF strongholds, although Sudanese media could not independently verify these reports at the time of publication.
In a statement, the RSF claimed its fighters had repelled a “brutal attack” by the army and its allies, inflicting “heavy losses in lives and military equipment.”
Jabal Moya has been a critical battleground since war broke out between the army and the RSF in mid-April 2023.
The RSF seized control of the mountain in June 2024, using it as a base to launch attacks on nearby villages and cities.