Sudanese army and allies recapture key North Kordofan towns

July 25, 2026 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese army and its allied forces recaptured the city of Bara along with the strategic areas of Al-Baraka and Um Sayala in North Kordofan State on Saturday following heavy clashes with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The capture of Um Sayala, located near the vital export road connecting North Kordofan to Omdurman, provides the military with a new supply corridor to El Obeid while reducing operational threats to Khartoum and the White Nile states.

Joint Force Spokesperson Mutawakil Ali Wakeel confirmed that the army, the Joint Force, Qashan forces, and supporting troops successfully secured Al-Baraka, Um Sayala, Um Qurfa, Jabrat Al-Sheikh, and Bara.

Several video footage show Sudan Shield Forces inside Um Sayala, while the other forces are in Bara.

Military officials reported that 73 heavily armed RSF vehicles were destroyed during the fighting, several other vehicles were seized, and numerous RSF combatants and officers were killed.

Bara is the second-largest city in North Kordofan, located about 45 kilometres east of El Obeid, and holds key tactical value after changing hands multiple times during the conflict.

Jabrat Al-Sheikh serves as a crucial hub along the regional export road, hosting a major crop and livestock market that supports surrounding pastoralist communities.

Darfur Governor Minni Arko Minawi, who supervises the Joint Force, stated on social media that precise and coordinated operations shattered RSF defensive lines, inflicting severe personnel and material losses.

Sudan’s Ministry of Defence noted that the simultaneous advances across the Bara and Um Sayala fronts mark a critical development in North Kordofan aimed at securing civilian infrastructure across Kordofan and Darfur.

The Ministry of Defence also published video footage of ongoing operations in Um Sayala, stating that coordinated pushes across multiple sectors are proceeding under the direction of the Armed Forces General Command.

During the offensive, the Sudan Liberation Movement announced the death of Major General Abdel Aziz Ismail Abakar, a prominent commander known as “Mr Attack 77,” who was killed in action.

Gaining control over Bara and Jabrat Al-Sheikh effectively shields El Obeid from eastern offensives and creates potential to reopen direct ground access to Omdurman once remaining RSF positions along the route are cleared.