Sudan’s army claims control of major highway linking Khartoum and el-Obeid

Sudan’s army regains control of highway linking Khartoum with El Obeid The Sudanese army has announced that it has regained full control of a major highway linking the capital, Khartoum, with el-Obeid, a city that has been under siege by the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

list 3 of 3 Sudanese minister says war has ‘profoundly reshaped’ nation’s demographics About half a million people are trapped in the city, where the United Nations has warned of a humanitarian catastrophe, with residents facing intense RSF drone attacks.

In a statement on Sunday, the Sudanese army said it had recaptured cities and towns between Khartoum and el-Obied following two days of fierce battles with the RSF, which controlled the highway.

The attacks marked the first major offensive against the paramilitary in months.

The army said its troops retook the areas of Um Qurfa and Jarigakh after operations that “inflicted heavy losses in lives and equipment [of RSF fighters], forcing them to flee”.

“With this victory, the forces have taken control of the export route of Omdurman Al-Abyd”, the army said, referring to the Al Sadarat highway.

Al Jazeera’s AlMigdad Alruhaid said the capture of the highway restores “a direct connection between the capital and Kordofan for the first time in months”.

“This is significant because the highway is a key military supply route,” Alruhaid said.

“It allows the army to move fuel, troops and equipment more quickly to el-Obeid instead of relying on the longer route through the White Nile State.