A military source from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) said on Saturday that reinforcements were moving from Babanusa and Al-Fashir towards the western edge of Al-Ubayyid.
He said units were gathering in Bara, which the RSF controls, awaiting orders from field commanders to begin an assault on the city. The tension follows the RSF’s recent advance in Babanusa, a strategic city in West Kordofan that fell after days of heavy clashes.
Battles between General Abdel Fattah al Burhan’s army and the RSF have continued across Khartoum and other regions, leaving hundreds of civilians dead or wounded in indiscriminate attacks.
Al-Ubayyid has become a focal point in the conflict, with the RSF seeking full control since April 2023 while the SAF maintains a firm hold on the Fifth Infantry Division headquarters.
The city’s importance is heightened by its strategic position, hosting the world’s largest gum arabic market and serving as a key link to western Sudan’s export routes.
