El-Obeid, Sudan (Running Africa) — Sudan‘s army says it has regained full control of the Al Sadarat Highway, a vital route linking Khartoum to El-Obeid, following two days of intense fighting with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The recapture of the approximately 350-kilometre strategic corridor restores a crucial supply line to El-Obeid, strengthening the military’s ability to transport troops, weapons, fuel and humanitarian aid while disrupting the RSF’s efforts to advance on the city.

The development marks one of the Sudanese Armed Forces’ most significant battlefield gains in recent months as the conflict continues to reshape control across the country.

Strategic Highway Restores Critical Supply Route

According to the army, its forces also retook several surrounding areas, including Um Qurfa and Jarigakh, inflicting heavy losses on RSF fighters and securing the highway for the first time in months.

Military officials say reopening the route will significantly improve logistics and reinforce government-held positions in El-Obeid, a strategically important city in central Sudan.

The highway has been largely under RSF control since April 2023, when fighting erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary group over plans to integrate the RSF into the national military.

El-Obeid Remains Under Humanitarian Pressure

Despite the military breakthrough, humanitarian conditions in El-Obeid remain dire.

The United Nations estimates that approximately 500,000 people remain trapped in the city, where civilians continue to face insecurity, shortages of essential supplies and repeated RSF drone attacks.

Aid agencies have warned that sustained access to the highway could improve the delivery of humanitarian assistance, including food, medical supplies and fuel, to communities affected by the conflict.

A Major Setback for the Rapid Support Forces

Military analysts view the recapture of the Al Sadarat Highway as a significant strategic setback for the RSF.

Control of El-Obeid would have strengthened the paramilitary group’s influence across large parts of western Sudan and enhanced its ability to move personnel and supplies between key regions.

By reclaiming the highway, the Sudanese army has not only restored a critical logistics corridor but also complicated the RSF’s broader military objectives in central Sudan.

Sudan’s War Continues to Fuel One of the World’s Worst Humanitarian Crises

The war, which began in April 2023, has devastated Sudan, claiming an estimated 40,000 lives and forcing more than 14 million people from their homes.

The conflict has triggered one of the world’s largest humanitarian emergencies, with aid organizations reporting severe shortages of food, clean water, healthcare and protection services, particularly for women and children.

As fighting continues across multiple regions, the battle for strategic transport routes such as the Al Sadarat Highway underscores the military and humanitarian significance of infrastructure in determining the course of Sudan’s ongoing conflict.