Sudanese army retakes Kazigil after Kabashi’s frontline visit
Military seeks to reopen southern axis toward Al-Hamadi and El-Debeibat
The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) on Sunday afternoon captured the small town of Kazigil in North Kordofan State, pushing the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army–North (SPLA-North) to the interior of South Kordofan State where the army hopes to eventually reach Dilling.
The RSF had in July captured Kazigil and pushed to villages just outside the state capital El Obeid, forming a security loop around the largest Kordofan town from the west via West Kordofan, and from the south via South Kordofan State. These maneuvers left El Obeid vulnerable to siege and threatened to trigger a humanitarian catastrophe in a city that had become a refuge for thousands displaced from earlier battles in the region.
Based on videos geolocated by Sudan War Monitor, SAF soldiers were seen moving freely through Kazigil along the highway leading to Hamadi on Sunday, raising the national flag, parading captured RSF vehicles, and consolidating in the town’s central market.
Other clips show convoys of technicals advancing southward, with soldiers chanting victory slogans and pointing toward Al-Hamadi, the first major settlement in South Kordofan. One commander is filmed addressing troops, declaring that the advance will continue to Al-Hamadi and El-Debeibat where they would be set for advance on Dilling from the North.
The timing of the operation is closely tied to a high-profile visit by SAF Deputy Commander-in-Chief and Sovereignty Council member Shams al-Din Kabashi, who toured frontline positions in North Kordofan earlier last week. Kabashi, himself from South Kordofan, addressed soldiers in the sector and promised that the army was preparing to “start the liberation of the entire Kordofan,” with an eventual objective of marching west to relieve El Fasher, the besieged capital of North Darfur.
The capture of Kazigil so soon after Kabashi’s tour underscores the morale and momentum that military leadership sought to instill. Analysts noted that the operation was likely accelerated to match Kabashi’s pledge with tangible battlefield results, projecting the image of an army capable of coordinated offensives despite months of attrition.
Though modest in size, Kazigil carries outsized importance. The town lies 25 kilometers north of Al-Hamadi and 45 kilometers north of El-Debeibat, both of which serve as gateways to Dilling. The latter hosts the SAF’s 57th Infantry Brigade of the 14th Infantry Division, which has been under siege by RSF and SPLA-North forces for two years.
Control of Kazigil enables SAF to reestablish a southern axis of advance from El Obeid. If reinforced, the position could allow the army to threaten RSF supply lines running across South and West Kordofan, potentially easing pressure on Dilling and undermining RSF’s encirclement strategy.
The RSF’s seizure of Kazigil in July was part of a broader advance that tightened the noose around El Obeid. By capturing the town, along with other positions west and south of the capital, the paramilitary created the conditions for a partial siege. At the time, humanitarian organizations warned of catastrophe if supply routes into El Obeid were cut, or even if the city is attacked.
By retaking Kazigil, SAF has temporarily relieved that pressure. Still, the RSF maintains a strong presence in West Kordofan, including Al-Nahud – which it captured in May after seizing Al-Fula in 2024 – and retains the capacity to launch counterattacks from South Kordofan. The risk of renewed encirclement of El Obeid remains high.
Kazigil has now changed hands twice in six months, underscoring the fluid nature of the Kordofan front. In late January, SAF pushed east from El Obeid and simultaneously advanced from White Nile State through Rahad and Jebel Kordofan, reopening vital supply lines.
In May, SAF launched another operation south from El Obeid, capturing Kazigil, Al-Hamadi, and El-Debeibat, bringing the army within 50 kilometers of Dilling for the first time since the war began.
Yet RSF counterattacks soon reversed those gains. By mid-July, the paramilitary had again taken Kazigil, tightening its grip on the approaches to El Obeid. Sunday’s operation therefore represents SAF’s second attempt to control the town, with uncertain prospects for how long the army can hold it.
Humanitarian implications
The battle for Kazigil reverberates beyond the military sphere. El Obeid continues to serve as a haven for displaced civilians from across Kordofan. Any sustained SAF presence along the southern axis could ensure that humanitarian corridors remain open, while renewed RSF encirclement risks cutting the city off entirely.
In South Kordofan, each clash around Al-Hamadi and El-Debeibat has displaced entire villages, adding pressure to Kadugli and other already strained urban centers. Aid agencies warn that if the cycle of advances and reversals continues, the humanitarian situation across both states will deteriorate further.
The capture of Kazigil is a morale boost for SAF and a direct demonstration of Kabashi’s influence. By linking his frontline tour to a concrete military gain, SAF leadership has sought to project confidence and restore a narrative of momentum.
Yet sustaining control over Kazigil will be difficult. RSF has repeatedly demonstrated resilience, using mobility and local networks to retake territory. Unless SAF secures its supply lines and fortifies positions, the possibility of another reversal looms.
Moreover, advancing further south into Al-Hamadi and El-Debeibat will require significant resources – fuel, ammunition, and manpower – all vulnerable to RSF interdiction. The challenge is not only tactical but logistical.
Videos
In this video, Sudanese army soldiers are seen after arrival in Kazigil on Sunday, September 7, 2025. Video is geolocated to this location (12°48'12.87"N 30° 6'3.66"E) by Sudan War Monitor heading south.
Sudanese military soldiers in this videos are seen near a signpost located a few hundreds meters north of Kazigil town after they announced control over the strategic town. This video is geolocated to this area: 12°48'19.22"N 30° 6'2.99"E.
In this video, a local woman is seen chanting pro-Sudanese military slogans as members of the military enters the town of Kazigil in the afternoon hours of Sunday, September 7, 2025.
⚠️Graphic content warning: Dead bodies.
In this video geolocated to Kazigil, a SAF soldier films dozens of bodies identified as RSF and SPLA-North fighters killed in the battle. The cameraman is heard mocking the bodies and stating that some of the dead were South Sudanese.
In this video, SAF soldiers display captured RSF vehicles mounted with heavy weapons, following the repulsion of an attempted RSF counterattack to retake the town on Monday, September 8, 2025.
Why is the soldier in the back of the video towards the end wearing a surgical mask?