Sudanese Army, RSF Both Claim Gains in Kordofan as Fighting Continues

The Sudanese army and allied groups claimed on Sunday to have recaptured the towns of Bara, Jabra al-Sheikh, and Umm Sayala in North Kordofan. However, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) denied losing these areas, and battlefield reports indicated that fighting was still ongoing, with neither side establishing full control.

The army issued a statement asserting it seized the towns after intense battles, claiming to have inflicted heavy losses on the RSF and captured weapons and military vehicles. Armed groups fighting alongside the army reported destroying over 73 RSF combat vehicles and capturing additional equipment, stating that military operations in the region were continuing.

In contrast, RSF adviser Al-Basha Tabiq rejected these claims on Facebook, stating that RSF forces had inflicted a significant defeat on the attacking troops. Witnesses and local sources provided accounts that diverged from the official narratives, reporting that the fiercest fighting occurred in Umm Sayala, resulting in heavy casualties for both sides, including several field commanders. Field sources indicated that army-allied forces initially entered Umm Sayala before advancing into Jabra al-Sheikh, as RSF units appeared to withdraw. However, these same sources reported that the RSF later regrouped, retook Umm Sayala and Jabra al-Sheikh, and forced army forces to redeploy in Bara.

Umm Sayala holds strategic importance as it overlooks southeastern North Kordofan State, is close to White Nile and Khartoum states, and helps secure the route to Bara and the highway connecting Khartoum with El Obeid. The conflict, which erupted on April 15, 2023, has made Kordofan a major battleground. The war has resulted in at least 60,000 deaths, displaced nearly 13 million people, pushed large parts of the country into famine, and left over 30 million people in need of humanitarian assistance.

“

RSF forces had dealt a major defeat to the attacking troops.