Babanousa: Rhino – Babanousa Local Authority in West Kordofan confirmed on Sunday that the city has been empty of citizens since January 22, 2024, as it was evacuated of its residents on that date for security reasons, and that the only people currently in the city are forces from Division 22 of the Armed Forces.

It confirmed that talk of a “new displacement” or “humanitarian crisis” is “purely false and fabricated,” intended to mislead public opinion and serve the political and media agendas of the army and its allied militias.

Some social media pages, including one called “West Kordofan Emergency Room,” shared a post stating that the city of Babnusa was witnessing the complete displacement of all its 177,000 residents.

The statement said: “We in Babanousa affirm to the local, regional, and international public that this information is completely false, and we clarify that what has been circulated are misleading allegations that have no basis in reality, launched by parties seeking to distort the facts, sow discord, and destabilize the situation.”

The statement added: “Any military operations that may take place within the city of Babanousa will be directed solely at military sites, and there are no civilians in the area. Therefore, the army command within Division 22 bears responsibility for any targeting or clashes.”