The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) announced the recapture of North Kordofan’s strategic city of al-Rahad, located 379 kilometers southwest of Khartoum, after intense battles with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Al-Rahad had been under RSF control since the second month of the conflict, which erupted in April 2023 in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, before spreading to other parts of the country.

In an official statement, SAF Spokesman Nabeel Abdalla declared, “Our forces have crushed the terrorist Dagalos militia,” referring to the RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo and his brothers. He confirmed that SAF had fully secured al-Rahad, marking a significant gain in North Kordofan.

Al-Rahad, located just 30 kilometers from the state capital, al-Obied, is a critical locality in North Kordofan. It serves as a major market for cattle and crops, particularly hibiscus, and is a vital railway hub linking eastern, western, and central Sudan.

The recapture of al-Rahad follows SAF’s successful operation two weeks earlier in Omrawaba, another key city in North Kordofan.

The latest developments highlight SAF’s ongoing efforts to regain control over contested regions amid the continuing conflict in Sudan. (ILKHA)