The Sudanese army has successfully broken a near two-year siege imposed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on the strategic city of el-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan state.
This significant breakthrough comes after the RSF signed a political charter in Nairobi, aiming to establish a breakaway government in areas under its control.
The conflict between the RSF and the army has been ongoing since April 2023, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths and millions displaced.
The war has split the country, with the army controlling the north and east, while the RSF holds most of the Darfur region in the west and parts of the south.
El-Obeid, a key hub connecting Khartoum to Darfur, has been under siege for nearly two years. The city’s recapture is a significant victory for the army, following recent advances in Khartoum.
Sudanese soldiers were met with jubilation as they marched into the city.
A military spokesman confirmed the gains, stating that army forces had destroyed RSF units.
Finance Minister Jibril Ibrahim hailed the move as a “massive step” in lifting the RSF siege on el-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur province, and allowing humanitarian aid to reach Kordofan.
The situation in el-Obeid was described as “horrific” by Sudanese civil society activist Dallia Abdlemoniem, with civilians held captive for nearly two years and no access to medical or food aid.
The army’s advances are seen as a significant step towards ending the siege and bringing relief to affected areas.
