EL OBEID – The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Joint Force of the Armed Movements captured the strategic town of Bara and five surrounding areas in North Kordofan State on Saturday, marking one of the army’s most significant advances in the region in recent months. Sudan Now verified the development through videos recorded inside the newly captured areas in addition to official military statements.
According to the army, its forces took control of Bara, Umm Sayala, Umm Garfa, Umm Dam Haj Ahmed, Jabra Al-Sheikh and Al-Baraka following military operations conducted alongside the Joint Force.
The advance is expected to strengthen the army’s control over key supply routes linking El Obeid with northern and western parts of Kordofan, while improving access to routes leading toward the Darfur region.
Bara has been one of the most strategically important towns in North Kordofan throughout the conflict. Located about 40 kilometres north of El Obeid, it sits on the main highway linking central Sudan with Darfur and has served as a logistical hub for military operations by both sides. Control of the town has changed hands more than once during the war, reflecting its importance in the broader campaign for Kordofan.
In recent weeks, the Sudanese military has intensified operations across North Kordofan, advancing through several rural areas while seeking to reopen transport corridors and reduce pressure on El Obeid, which has faced repeated attacks during the conflict. The latest advance comes as fighting continues across Darfur and Kordofan, two of the war’s main theatres.
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) had not commented on the reported loss of the areas at the time of publication.
