Sudanese army, RSF clash on North Kordofan-Khartoum border

January 18, 2026 (EL OBEID) – Violent clashes broke out on Sunday between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in border areas between North Kordofan and Khartoum states, involving various types of weaponry.

Fighting in North Kordofan has intensified over several months as the RSF seeks to obstruct army advances from western Omdurman toward the state while attempting to secure El Obeid from the east. The paramilitary group is also working to prevent the army from moving out of El Obeid toward the south and west.

Military sources told Sudan Tribune that a large RSF force launched a surprise attack on army positions along the Omdurman-Bara export road. Fierce fighting occurred in the Wadi al-Hout area, west of Rahid al-Nuba in the Jabrat al-Sheikh locality, where the army reportedly repelled the attack and inflicted heavy losses.

Both sides utilized heavy artillery and drones during the engagement, according to sources. The RSF is pushing to control the entire export road to the outskirts of Omdurman. While the RSF currently holds the majority of the route, with a heavy presence in Jabrat al-Sheikh and Bara, the army controls sections extending from western Omdurman through Um Qirfa and Rahid al-Nuba.

In a separate development, a spokesperson for the RSF-led Sudan Constituent Alliance accused armed groups allied with the army of attacking civilians in several Kordofan villages between January 15 and 17.

The alliance claimed the attacks in villages, including Alouba, Um Qalib, Debiker, and Al-Adiya Qar’an, resulted in the deaths of 220 herders and the detention of many others. The spokesperson added that 912 people are currently reported missing following the violence.