Sudanese Army Recaptures Al Sadarat Highway to Relieve el-Obeid

The Sudanese army regained full control of the Al Sadarat highway on July 27, 2026, following two days of intense combat with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The military expelled RSF fighters from the towns of Um Qurfa and Jarigakh, effectively reopening the primary route connecting the capital, Khartoum, with el-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan state.

This strategic victory restores a direct supply line for fuel, troops, and equipment to el-Obeid, which had been under RSF siege. The operation hinders RSF efforts to seize control of western Sudan, although the army has kept the highway closed to civilians.

The humanitarian crisis in el-Obeid remains severe, with roughly 500,000 people trapped under the threat of sexual violence and drone strikes. Conflict fatalities remain a point of contention among sources, with the World Health Organization estimating 40,000 deaths while other aid workers place the figure above 200,000.