Sudan’s army claims control of major highway linking Khartoum and el-Obeid
Sudan's army announced it has recaptured the Al Sadarat highway linking Khartoum and el-Obeid following two days of combat with the Rapid Support Forces. The 350-kilometre strategic route, controlled by the RSF since April 2023, will enable military supply movements and reduce the siege pressure on el-Obeid's approximately 500,000 trapped residents.
The Sudanese armed forces have reasserted control over a critical transportation corridor connecting the capital to el-Obeid in North Kordofan state, marking a significant shift in the ongoing conflict with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The Al Sadarat highway, stretching 350 kilometres, had remained under RSF control since the outbreak of hostilities in April 2023, when disagreements over military integration triggered the broader conflict.
According to military statements, army forces recaptured intermediate towns including Um Qurfa and Jarigakh during intensive operations that inflicted substantial casualties and equipment losses on RSF fighters. The restoration of this supply route represents the first major offensive success against the paramilitary in several months and provides direct logistical access to el-Obeid for the first time in months.
The strategic importance of this corridor extends beyond military considerations. The highway serves as a vital conduit for fuel, troops, and equipment transport, previously requiring longer detours through White Nile State. For civilians, the reopened route may facilitate humanitarian assistance and restore trade flows for livestock and agricultural products from the Kordofan region, which has faced severe isolation.
El-Obeid remains under siege with approximately half a million residents trapped within the city limits, facing intense drone attacks and humanitarian constraints. The United Nations has warned of catastrophic conditions, with women and girls facing acute risks from both aerial bombardment and sexual violence. The RSF's loss of this highway significantly diminishes its capacity to advance toward el-Obeid, a capture that would have granted the paramilitary control over western Sudan.
The broader conflict has resulted in an estimated 40,000 deaths and displaced more than 14 million people across Sudan, according to World Health Organization figures. Sexual violence has been systematically deployed as a weapon throughout the three-year conflict.
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