Intense fighting between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has displaced thousands of civilians in Blue Nile State [1].

The escalation in this region threatens to widen the scope of Sudan's internal conflict, pushing more vulnerable populations into precarious living conditions as strategic towns change hands.

Civilians are fleeing toward the state capital, al-Damazin, where many have been forced into overcrowded displacement camps [1]. The fighting is driven by a battle for regional control, intensified by an alliance between the RSF and the SPLM-N [1, 2].

Displacement figures vary by source and timeframe. Reports indicate more than 28,000 people were forced from their homes between April 2025 and January 2026 [1]. Other reports highlight a broader crisis, stating 150,000 people have been displaced by the conflict, with Blue Nile serving as a primary strategic battleground [3].

Control of key locations remains fluid. The RSF reportedly controls most of Kurmuk town near the Ethiopian border [1]. However, the Sudanese army recaptured a town in Blue Nile on April 20, 2026 [2]. Other contested areas include the town of Al-Kaily [4].

The humanitarian toll reflects a larger national catastrophe. Sudan is currently facing the world's largest displacement crisis, with more than 11.6 million people displaced overall [1].

Local residents in the displacement camps face severe shortages of food and medicine as aid struggles to reach the interior of Blue Nile State [3]. The continued movement of front lines around al-Damazin continues to trigger new waves of flight among the civilian population [1].

“Sudan is currently facing the world's largest displacement crisis.”

The volatility in Blue Nile State underscores the fragmented nature of the Sudanese conflict, where the involvement of regional alliances like the SPLM-N complicates ceasefire efforts. Because this region borders Ethiopia, the displacement crisis risks evolving from an internal humanitarian disaster into a cross-border stability issue, while the army's struggle to maintain control of towns like Al-Kaily and Kurmuk suggests a protracted war of attrition.