The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have broken the nearly two-year siege of El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan State. Launched early Sunday, the operation involved a coordinated offensive by forces from the 18th Infantry Division (White Nile State) and remnants of the 16th Infantry Division (also known as the “Al Sayyad (Hunter) Axis” forces) who linked up with forces from the 5th Infantry Division (North Kordofan) at Jebel (Mount) Kordofan, east of El Obeid.
This development restores a critical road link between North Kordofan and White Nile states. The breakthrough follows a series of recent SAF gains as forces based in Talodi, White Nile, advanced east to west, recapturing Um Ruwaba and Ar-Rahad.
The battle for El Obeid has been a protracted and arduous campaign, marked by prior unsuccessful SAF attempts to relieve the city. In May 2024, a similar offensive resulted in heavy casualties, with hundreds of fatalities, primarily on the SAF side.
Many civilians in El Obeid also suffered and died, due to RSF shelling of the city.
In a statement, SAF spokesman Brigadier General Nabil Abdallah confirmed that the breakthrough was spearheaded by forces from the “Al Sayyad (Hunter) Axis,” which penetrated RSF defenses and established control over key entry points east of El Obeid. The statement also confirmed the capture of Al Qutaynah, a town in northern White Nile State, bordering Khartoum State.
“By the grace and guidance of God, our forces from the Al Sayyad axis succeeded in opening the road to El Obeid and have linked up with the lions of Al-Hajana (5th Infantry Division) at Jebel Kordofan. The heroes of White Nile [state] were also able to destroy the gangs of Al Daglo militia and successfully purify Al Qutaynah,” Abdallah stated.
Finance Minister and leader of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), Gibril Ibrahim, confirmed the development, attributing it to the combined efforts of the SAF, the Joint Forces (a coalition of former Darfur rebel groups including JEM now aligned with SAF), and local resistance forces. He emphasized that this advance paves the way for further operations into Darfur, particularly in El Fasher, where RSF forces maintain a strong presence and besiege the SAF’s remaining base, the 6th Infantry Division headquarters.
“Today's strategic victory represents a qualitative shift in the journey of the greater victory and a giant step towards lifting the siege on Fasher Al-Sultan and liberating the occupied cities of Darfur from the filth of the rebellion. It also allows the delivery of essential food supplies and medicines to the stranded states of Kordofan, which have suffered from RSF-imposed looting and blockades,” Ibrahim wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
The Al Sayyad forces, pivotal in the operation, are remnants of the 16th Infantry Division in Nyala, South Darfur State, which was captured by RSF in October 2023. The division’s commander was killed, and his deputy, now leading the force, was severely wounded and evacuated to Atbara for treatment. The unit has since been restructured into a mobile combat force operating alongside elements of the Joint Forces, including fighters from the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (led by Minni Arko Minnawi) and JEM.
The integration of these former Darfur rebel factions into SAF operations has bolstered the army’s strength, altering the battlefield's balance of power. These groups, initially neutral, aligned with SAF in November 2023, bringing combat experience and territorial influence. This strategic shift has provided SAF with a tactical advantage, as these forces possess knowledge of the terrain and unconventional warfare tactics similar to those employed by the RSF.
The prolonged RSF siege had plunged El Obeid into a humanitarian crisis, with shortages of food and medical supplies. While civilian movements remain restricted, the SAF’s advance could eventually restore access, facilitating military resupply and humanitarian relief in the coming weeks.
Video evidence confirms the presence of SAF troops from the 5th Infantry Division meeting with units from the 18th Infantry Division outside El Obeid. A video of the SAF commander, Maj. Gen. Faisal Mohammed Al-Hassan, of the 5th Infantry Division was geolocated to Jebel Kordofan (13° 5'35.08"N 30°19'53.98"E), marking the army’s first presence in the area since RSF took control nearly two years ago. Footage also shows SAF units entering El Obeid via the main highway (13° 9'39.25"N 30°14'46.94"E).
With the siege of El Obeid broken, SAF is potentially positioned to extend its offensive westward toward An-Nahud, where its 57th Infantry Brigade remains encircled, approximately 200 km away.
A continued advance could also enable SAF to relieve its 22nd Infantry Division in Babanusa and regain control of El Fula, the state capital, situated 330 km and 250 km west of El Obeid, respectively. Success on this front would mark a significant shift in the balance of power across Kordofan.
While SAF's advances in Kordofan are reshaping the conflict in western Sudan, its operations in the capital are also gaining ground. In recent weeks, the army has recaptured key districts in Khartoum, including the entirety of Bahri (Khartoum North), dealing a significant blow to RSF in the capital region. Fierce clashes broke out Saturday near the strategic Soba Bridge and continued for hours, as SAF forces advancing from Al Jazira State along the east bank of the Blue Nile attempted to seize control of the bridge. Securing it would hinder RSF's ability to reinforce and maneuver within the capital.
South of the capital, SAF forces advancing from White Nile State seized control of Al Qutaynah, a town on the northern edge of White Nile State, approximately 40 km south of Jebel Awlia. The capture, which took place yesterday, brings SAF closer to its objective of capturing the Jebel Awlia Dam Bridge. The bridge, linking southwestern Khartoum and southern outskirts of Omdurman, serves as the last RSF route for reinforcements and supply between Darfur and Khartoum. Seizing it would complete the encirclement of RSF fighters in the capital.
Last week, RSF forces in Al Qutaynah launched attacks on the local civilian population in response to SAF’s advance on the area, allegedly resulting in the deaths of over 200 people. Among the victims were children who drowned while attempting to cross the White Nile to safety. However, the exact civilian casualty count remains unverified due to ongoing communication disruptions.
The series of recent victories by SAF, especially the breaking of the El Obeid siege, provides a morale boost and logistical advantage, allowing SAF to redeploy forces towards other fronts, particularly in West Kordofan and Darfur. The RSF, which had maintained an upper hand in much of 2023, is now on the defensive in multiple areas.
While SAF has made progress in Khartoum, full control of the capital remains elusive, with RSF still entrenched in several key areas. The RSF also maintains a presence in northern parts of Al Jazirah State, where it controls Al Bageir along the border with Khartoum state.
Videos
In this video, Maj. Gen. Faisal Mohammed Al-Hassan, commander of SAF’s 5th Infantry Division, is seen at Jebel Kordofan base – previously held by the RSF – welcoming troops from the 18th Infantry Division as they link up with forces from the 5th Infantry Division advancing from El Obeid (13° 5'35.08"N 30°19'53.98"E.)
In this video, a convoy – alleged by the cameraman to be SAF units from the mobile division Al Sayyad – is seen in pickup vehicles entering El Obeid via the main highway east of the city (13°9'39.25"N, 30°14'46.94"E).
In this video, SAF soldiers from the 5th Infantry Division are seen driving east of El Obeid toward Jebel Kordofan to link up with their counterparts from the 18th Infantry Division and the Al Sayyad mobile forces (13°8'37.38"N, 30°15'57.86"E).
In this video, civilians celebrate alongside SAF soldiers in El Obeid, firing celebratory gunfire to mark the end of the RSF siege on the city.
In this video, civilians are seen celebrating near the Western Market (Souq El Qarbi) in response to the recent developments. (13°10'52.78"N 30°13'8.14"E)
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