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

Capture of Al Sadarat highway will help the Sudanese army block the RSF’s push to seize el-Obeid in North Kordofan.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).The capture of Al Sadarat highway on Sunday will help the Sudanese army move troops, weapons, fuel and supplies, and will also block the RSF’s push to seize el-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan state.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3UN probe finds mass killings, gang rapes by Sudan’s RSF amount to genocidelist 2 of 3Sudan sentences RSF chief Hemedti to death: Who’s he, what’s he accused of?list 3 of 3Sudanese minister says war has ‘profoundly reshaped’ nation’s demographicsend of listAbout 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.Improved humanitarian accessAl 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. And the move also reduces pressure on el-Obeid, which has been largely isolated by RSF positions, while potentially opening an important trade route for livestock and agricultural products from the Kordofan region,” he added.