Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have regained control of Um Rawaba, a key city in North Kordofan, after intense battles with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The military also reported advances in Khartoum, signaling a potential shift in the ongoing conflict.
The army announced on Thursday that its troops had “liberated” Um Rawaba, the second-largest city in North Kordofan, which had been a strategic RSF stronghold since the war began in April 2023. Videos shared by the military showed soldiers celebrating with residents following the recapture.
SAF forces have been pushing forward from their base in Tendelti, White Nile state, where the Al-Sayyad mobile force, primarily composed of the 16th Infantry Division, has been leading operations. The army’s objective is to break the RSF siege on El Obeid, which has been facing worsening humanitarian conditions due to restrictions on aid and trade imposed by the paramilitary group.
Military Advances in Khartoum
In Khartoum, the army and its allies continue to gain ground. Reports indicate SAF has taken control of parts of the Kobar, Azba, and Kafouri neighborhoods in Khartoum Bahri, areas previously dominated by RSF.
Forces from the Al-Kadru combat camp and the Hattab operational base have secured the Dar Douq and Nabta neighborhoods and are advancing toward East Nile. Meanwhile, in Ombada, western Omdurman, SAF troops from Karari launched attacks on RSF positions, reclaiming most of the locality except for western areas near the Libya market.
The army recently completed the second phase of its operations in Khartoum, linking troops advancing from Omdurman and North Bahri with forces stationed at the Signal Corps headquarters in southern Khartoum Bahri. This maneuver effectively broke the siege on the Army General Command in central Khartoum.