Khartoum, May 04 (Darfur24)
Sudan’s warring sides are mobilizing for a potentially decisive confrontation in the Kordofan region, with both the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) deploying troops and repositioning units across key regions.
Military sources from both sides told Darfur24 on Sunday that large-scale reinforcements and withdrawals are underway, signaling preparations for imminent ground operations.
An army source said the General Staff has withdrawn battalions from the “Al-Sayyad” mobile force stationed in El Obeid, as well as units from Um Ruwaba and parts of White Nile State, redeploying them toward Omdurman and strategic routes leading north.
The source described the move as part of a broader repositioning along the export route, aimed at preparing for upcoming offensives.
Other sources said allied formations supporting the army, including the joint force and the Sudan Shield, are being redeployed toward the desert region in North Darfur and Northern State.
On the opposing side, RSF sources confirmed a parallel buildup in North Kordofan, particularly in Bara and Um Badr, where more than 150 combat vehicles have reportedly been concentrated. Additional reinforcements have also been deployed to Al-Nuhud and Al-Khuwai in West Kordofan.
An RSF source said forces were redirected from South and North Darfur during April as part of a strategy to expand territorial control, adding that operations in South Kordofan were paused to reprioritize targets.
The mobilization has fueled speculation about fractures within pro-army forces after reports circulated of joint units withdrawing from Kordofan frontlines. However, the joint force denied any disagreements, stressing that deployments are directed by the army’s General Staff.
The escalating military movements come amid a complex territorial divide. The Sudanese army maintains control over eastern and central states, including the Red Sea, River Nile, Kassala, Gedaref, Al Jazeera, Sennar, and White Nile, as well as large parts of Kordofan and Blue Nile.
Meanwhile, the RSF controls most of Darfur, much of West Kordofan, parts of North and South Kordofan, and key areas such as Kurmuk and the border triangle in Northern State.
With both sides reinforcing positions and shifting forces across multiple fronts, Kordofan is increasingly emerging as the next major battlefield in Sudan’s ongoing war.