Sudanese army retakes key town in South Kordofan from RSF allies

The Sudanese army has regained control of the strategic town of Mabsut in South Kordofan state following intense clashes with forces aligned with the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). According to witness accounts, the army's recapture of Mabsut, located west of the key locality of Al-Abbasiya Tagali, gives it command over all territories west of this vital junction, marking a significant tactical advance in the grinding civil war.

Securing a Strategic Corridor

The capture of Mabsut holds substantial military importance due to Al-Abbasiya Tagali's role as a linchpin connecting the northern and southern parts of South Kordofan. Controlling this corridor allows the army to influence the movement of troops and civilians and consolidates its grip on supply routes in the region. The army's advance follows its seizure of several other areas west of Al-Abbasiya Tagali just days earlier, indicating a concerted push to reverse RSF gains in the state.

A Nation Divided Between Two Forces

This development occurs within the broader context of a fragmented nation. The RSF maintains control over all five states of the Darfur region in western Sudan, while the national army holds most of the remaining 13 states, including the capital, Khartoum. South Kordofan has been a fiercely contested battleground, with the army battling both the RSF and its allied faction of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N). Neither the army nor the SPLM-N has issued an official statement on the latest fighting.

Human Catastrophe Amidst Military Maneuvers

The ongoing struggle for territorial control continues amidst a staggering humanitarian catastrophe. The World Health Organization reports that the conflict, which began in April 2023, has resulted in at least 40,000 deaths and displaced a staggering 12 million people—one of the largest displacement crises in the world. The fighting in South Kordofan has directly contributed to this toll, forcing thousands of civilians to flee recent violence and exacerbating an already severe hunger crisis.