Sudanese army retakes key town from RSF in North Kordofan

The Sudanese military has recaptured the strategic town of Um Sayala in North Kordofan state following violent clashes with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Local sources confirmed to Anadolu that army forces seized the town located approximately 200 kilometers north of the provincial capital El-Obeid. Soldiers documented their entry into Um Sayala through videos shared on social media platforms, though neither the army nor RSF has issued official statements regarding the development.

Expanding Military Operations

This territorial gain represents the latest in a series of advances for the Sudanese army in North Kordofan, coming after the recent recapture of Umm Dham Haj Ahmad and Kazgil areas. The conflict has intensified in the region since the RSF's capture of El-Fasher, the North Darfur capital, last month. Fighting has now expanded to multiple new fronts across the Kordofan region in central and southern Sudan, with heavy clashes reported in Babnousa, the economic hub of North Kordofan that hosts a major railway station.

Broader Conflict Context

The ongoing power struggle between the Sudanese army and the RSF paramilitary group began in April 2023 and has created one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises. According to World Health Organization figures, the conflict has resulted in at least 40,000 fatalities and displaced approximately 12 million people. The RSF currently maintains control over all five states in the Darfur region, representing about one-fifth of Sudan's territory, while the army holds most of the remaining 13 states, including the capital Khartoum, where the majority of Sudan's 50 million population resides.