Sudanese Army, RSF Battle for Key Routes in North Kordofan

Members of the Sudanese army are pictured at an undisclosed location in North Kordofan state, file photo.

September 14, 2025 (EL OBEID) – Military confrontations between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continued with intensified violence in North Kordofan state on Sunday.

For over a week, the Sudanese army has renewed its operations in the Kordofan region to expel the RSF from areas in south, north, and west Kordofan. The army’s strategic goal is to advance towards the Darfur region and break the long-standing siege on El Fasher, while the RSF aims to block this advance.

Local sources told Sudan Tribune that fierce battles broke out early in the morning on the vital Omdurman-Bara export road, near the RSF-controlled town of Jabra al-Sheikh. The army is seeking to secure the entire export route and connect Omdurman with the city of Bara. The RSF continues to hold positions in Jabra al-Sheikh, Umm Qirfa, and Rahid al-Nuba.

On September 11, the army successfully recaptured the city of Bara in North Kordofan, which had been under RSF control since the early months of the conflict.

On the western front of El Obeid, military sources reported to Sudan Tribune that army artillery from the 5th Infantry Division command heavily shelled RSF gatherings in the al-Ayyara area, about 15 kilometres west of the state capital. Simultaneously, army warplanes bombed RSF positions in Al-Hammadi and Al-Dubaibat.

On Saturday, RSF troops had advanced near El Obeid after capturing al-Ayyara, forcing the army to withdraw to the outskirts of the capital. Heavy fighting ensued in the “Area 13” neighbourhood on the edge of El Obeid before the army successfully repelled the attack.