Sudanese army makes gains against RSF in escalating conflict

SUDAN, NORTH KORDOFAN, DARFUR, BLUE NILE, KHARTOUM, EL-FASHER, AL-MAZROUB, MINZA, BASHKARKAD, WEST KORDOFAN, SOUTH KORDOFAN, 4 OCTOBER 2026 —

Sudan’s Army Claims Strategic Breakthrough in North Kordofan, Disrupting RSF Supply Lines as War Enters Critical Phase

The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) declared the operation a turning point in the conflict, even as the RSF retains dominance over Darfur and much of Kordofan, leaving the three-and-a-half-year civil war far from resolved.

The capture of al-Mazroub—one of the RSF’s last major strongholds in North Kordofan—comes as the SAF intensifies its campaign to reclaim territory lost in the conflict’s early months. Military analysts warn that while the army’s gains may signal a shift in momentum, the RSF’s control over Darfur and its alliance with rebel groups like the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) in Blue Nile state ensure the war remains deadlocked.

With 14 million displaced and nearly half the population facing acute hunger, the battle for Kordofan has become a critical test of whether Sudan’s fractured leadership can stabilize the country—or whether the conflict will drag on into another year of devastation.

The SAF’s announcement on Friday marked its first major victory in North Kordofan since the RSF overran el-Fasher in October 2025, a defeat that shifted the war’s front lines eastward.

Mohamed Deidan, spokesman for the army’s special forces, told the Anadolu news agency that troops had “taken full control of al-Mazroub after battles with the Rapid Support Forces.” He described the town as a linchpin in the RSF’s logistical network, linking army-held North Kordofan with West Kordofan—a region where the paramilitary maintains a stronghold.

“This is a major turning point in the fighting in the Kordofan region,” Deidan said, framing the advance as a decisive blow to the RSF’s ability to resupply its forces.

The victory follows a series of SAF operations in recent weeks aimed at isolating the RSF in Kordofan. Since late 2025, the army has pushed the paramilitary out of much of North Kordofan, tightening its grip on the state’s eastern districts. However, the RSF’s hold over Darfur—where it controls nearly all of the region—remains unchallenged, with the paramilitary also entrenched in parts of South Kordofan.

The SPLM-N, which operates in South Kordofan, has emerged as a wild card in the conflict, occasionally clashing with both the SAF and the RSF while maintaining its own territorial claims.

On Saturday, the SAF claimed another major operation in Blue Nile state, where it alleged it had delivered a “knockout blow” to the RSF and the SPLM-N in the Minza and Bashkarkad areas. A statement from the army’s Fourth Infantry Division described the assault as a coordinated strike that inflicted “heavy losses in lives and equipment,” disrupting enemy movements and halting their advance toward army positions.

The claim came as Blue Nile Governor Ahmed al-Omda Badi reported that the RSF had launched drone attacks on his residence, though air defenses intercepted the aircraft. Badi provided no details on casualties or damage, and the RSF has not responded to the government’s statements.

The escalation in Blue Nile underscores the fluid nature of the war, with both sides launching rapid offensives in an attempt to gain the upper hand. The SAF currently controls Khartoum and much of northern, eastern, and central Sudan, while the RSF dominates western Sudan, including all of Darfur and parts of Kordofan. South Kordofan remains a contested battleground, with the SPLM-N holding pockets of territory in the south.

The shifting front lines have done little to alleviate Sudan’s humanitarian crisis, which has worsened since the war began in April 2023 after months of tensions between the SAF and the RSF.

Data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED) project, analyzed by Al Jazeera, shows that Kordofan has become the second-most violent region in the war after Khartoum, accounting for 19.7% of all recorded attacks. The conflict has displaced 14 million people—nearly a third of Sudan’s population—and pushed 19.5 million, or 40%, into acute hunger, according to the United Nations-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC).

In May, the IPC warned that 14 areas in North Darfur, South Darfur, and South Kordofan were at risk of famine, while 825,000 children were projected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition this year.

The economic toll of the war has been equally devastating. By September, the Sudanese pound had lost nearly half its value in army-controlled territories since the summer, driving up the cost of basic goods and deepening poverty. The currency’s collapse reflects the broader instability, with inflation fueled by disrupted trade, fuel shortages, and the breakdown of state institutions.

While the SAF’s recent gains may offer a glimmer of hope for stability, the RSF’s resilience and the SPLM-N’s defiance suggest that Sudan’s path to peace remains obscured by violence and division.

As the SAF consolidates its control over North Kordofan, the next phase of the war will likely focus on Blue Nile and South Kordofan, where the RSF and SPLM-N continue to clash with government forces.

The capture of al-Mazroub may have weakened the RSF’s supply lines, but the paramilitary’s ability to regroup and counterattack remains a critical factor in determining whether Sudan’s army can sustain its momentum—or if the war will grind on, leaving millions more in its wake.