The Sudanese government on Wednesday announced that the country’s military had recaptured Al-Kurmuk town in Blue Nile State from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Al-Kurmuk, located near the Ethiopian border, is considered strategically important because of its location and access routes connecting Sudan with Ethiopia and South Sudan.
The Sudanese government confirmed the development in a statement on Facebook, noting that the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), alongside allied forces, seized the town after what it described as fierce fighting that ended in the army's favour.
“The Sudanese Armed Forces and supporting forces succeeded today in liberating the city of Al-Kurmuk in Blue Nile State through force and determination, following fierce battles that were brought to a decisive conclusion by Allah’s will,” the statement reads.
According to Khartoum, RSF fighters suffered heavy losses in personnel and military equipment before retreating from the town, leaving behind weapons and military vehicles. The RSF has not commented on Khartoum’s claims.
"The Sudanese Armed Forces affirm that protecting civilians, working to restore essential services, and creating the conditions necessary for the return of normal life are priorities for the coming phase," the Sudanese government said.
The recapture of Al-Kurmuk marks the latest development in the conflict between the SAF and the RSF, which has spread across several parts of the country since fighting erupted in April 2023. It also comes amid growing concerns that the RSF could escalate their offensive on the city of El-Obeid, in North Kordofan, putting hundreds of thousands of civilians at risk.
According to the United Nations (UN), El-Obeid remains under Sudanese army control, but the city has been surrounded by the RSF for nearly 18 months, leaving residents facing siege-like conditions and mounting humanitarian pressures.
The situation is being compounded by damage to vital services. Strikes on key infrastructure, including electricity facilities, have triggered prolonged power cuts, disrupted access to water and placed additional pressure on hospitals already struggling to function.
Sudan’s ongoing war has triggered one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with the conflict estimated to have killed at least 59,000 people and forced more than 14 million others from their homes. The crisis has left 33.7 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, while severe restrictions on aid access have further deepened the suffering.
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