Sudan army says RSF advance on key town bordering Ethiopia

What Happened

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied factions of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement – North (SPLM-N) advanced into the border town of Kurmuk in Blue Nile State on Thursday, prompting a withdrawal by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). The RSF claimed to have inflicted heavy casualties and seized military equipment, while the local administration reported that the town had been subjected to three days of intensive drone and artillery strikes originating from the regional neighborhood. Separately, the SAF reported repelling an RSF assault on the transport hub of Jabra al-Sheikh in North Kordofan, claiming to have killed dozens of fighters and captured combat vehicles. These engagements follow coordinated RSF drone strikes on Wednesday that targeted five army-controlled cities, resulting in two fatalities in el-Obeid according to the Emergency Lawyers.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The capture of Kurmuk is strategically significant due to its position as a vital cross-border transit point between Ethiopia and the Nile Valley. Simultaneously, the RSF's push into Jabra al-Sheikh threatens the SAF's control over el-Obeid, a critical regional capital, potentially expanding the RSF's operational reach toward Omdurman and further destabilizing the supply corridors essential for humanitarian aid and military logistics.

Watch For

Monitor for potential SAF counter-offensives to retake Kurmuk, as the town has changed hands multiple times in recent months. Additionally, observe whether the RSF's use of coordinated drone strikes across geographically dispersed cities signals a shift in tactical doctrine or an escalation in the intensity of the conflict in SAF-held urban centers.