Khartoum, July 25, 2026 – The Sudanese Armed Forces and allied forces successfully recaptured the town of Bara, along with the areas of Al-Baraka and Umm Sayala in North Kordofan State, on Saturday, following fierce clashes with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The Umm Sayala area is located near the export route linking North Kordofan to Omdurman, providing the army with a new supply route to El Obeid and reducing the risk of an attack on White Nile and Khartoum States. Joint Force spokesman Mutawakkil Ali Wakil stated, "The Armed Forces, the 'Qashan' forces, and allied forces successfully liberated and secured the areas of Al-Baraka, Umm Sayala, Umm Qurfa, Jabra al-Sheikh, and Bara." Sudan Tribune reported that the Sudan Shield Forces, led by Abu Aqla Kik, participated in the battles in Umm Sayala, achieving success in capturing it. It was announced that 73 combat vehicles were destroyed during the clashes with the RSF, in addition to the capture of several other vehicles. The RSF also suffered heavy casualties. Bara, due to its strategic location and the fact that it has seen several changes of control, is the second largest city in North Kordofan and lies about 45 kilometers east of El Obeid. Jebra Sheikh is a key stop on the export route and a bustling market for crops and livestock, as well as an urban center for the region's nomadic communities. The governor of Darfur and supervisor of the joint force, Minni Arko Minawi, announced in a Facebook post the recapture of Bara, Umm Qurfa, Umm Sayala, and Jebra Sheikh after "precise military operations that disrupted the Rapid Support Forces' ranks." He added that the Rapid Support Forces suffered heavy losses in lives and equipment, and their defenses crumbled in the face of the army's advance. In a statement issued on Saturday, the Ministry of Defense announced the advance of the army and joint forces on the Bara axis as part of simultaneous operations against the Rapid Support Forces militias. The ministry affirmed that this advance is a significant field achievement for strengthening the army's presence in North Kordofan and protecting civilians and infrastructure. The Ministry of Defense also released a video showing the battles in Umm Sayala and the army's advance on multiple fronts within Kordofan and Darfur, inflicting heavy losses on the enemy according to the plans of the General Command of the Armed Forces. Meanwhile, the Sudan Liberation Movement mourned Brigadier General Abdul Aziz Ismail Abkar, known as "Mr. Attack 77," who was killed in the battles in North Kordofan. The movement stated that he was an example of discipline and courage and contributed significantly to the execution of military operations. The army's control of Bara and Jabra al-Sheikh allows it to secure the city of El Obeid from the east and link it to Omdurman, provided the Rapid Support Forces are pushed back from key areas on the export route between Omdurman and Bara.