The Sudanese army announced on Sunday, July 27th, 2026, that it has regained full control of the Al Sadarat highway, a major route connecting the capital, Khartoum, with the city of el-Obeid in North Kordofan state. This highway had been under the control of the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which had been laying siege to el-Obeid.

The army stated that after two days of intense fighting, it recaptured several cities and towns along the highway, including the areas of Um Qurfa and Jarigakh. These operations reportedly inflicted heavy losses on RSF fighters, forcing them to retreat. The recapture of this route will enable the Sudanese army to move troops, weapons, fuel, and supplies more effectively, while blocking the RSF’s advance toward el-Obeid.

The ongoing conflict in Sudan has had devastating consequences, with the World Health Organization estimating around 40,000 deaths and over 14 million people displaced from their homes. In el-Obeid, UN Women highlighted the dire situation for women and girls, who face the harrowing choice between risking drone strikes by collecting water during daylight or risking sexual violence by waiting until dark.

Additional context includes a UN probe that has found mass killings and gang rapes by Sudan’s RSF amount to genocide, and the Sudanese government sentencing RSF chief Hemedti to death. A Sudanese minister has also noted that the war has profoundly reshaped the nation’s demographics.

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