The Joint Forces of Sudan, comprising the Army and various armed groups, announced that they have successfully recaptured a strategic city and three towns in North Kordofan, a central region in the country, on Saturday, according to telesurenglish.net. These areas, previously under the control of the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF), include the city of Bara, and the towns of Umm Qirfa, Umm Sayala, and Jabrat al Sheij.

Bara, the second largest city in North Kordofan, holds strategic importance as it connects Omdurman with Al Obeid, an area that has been under paramilitary siege. The city has witnessed control shifts and serious abuses against civilians, particularly after the RSF took over on October 25, 2025. This led to reported extrajudicial executions, looting, kidnappings, and the displacement of thousands of people towards Al Obeid and other nearby areas.

The supervisor of the Joint Forces and governor of Darfur, Mini Arko Minawi, stated in a Facebook message that the allied forces have ‘liberated’ these areas after ‘precise and high-quality military operations that disorganized the militia’s ranks and subdued them.’ He also mentioned that the paramilitaries suffered ‘great human and material losses, and their defenses collapsed before the advance’ of the Joint Forces.

North Kordofan has become a strategic front, connecting Khartoum and the center of the country with Darfur, where its capital, Al Obeid, serves as a key logistical and military hub. The capital has been under siege and has experienced intense fighting by the RSF for 18 months, including drone attacks against civilian infrastructure such as markets, schools, water infrastructure, and gas stations.

The United Nations has warned of the potential for a new humanitarian catastrophe in the city, while humanitarian organizations report extreme hunger, water shortages, and serious difficulties in delivering aid.

Minawi highlighted that the current success is not the end of the battle but the beginning of a new phase of decisive action, indicating that further military engagements are expected in the region.