The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) announced on Wednesday that they have regained full control of Umm Samima, a strategic area west of El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan State, following intense clashes with General al-Burhan’s army (SAF) and allied militias.
In a statement issued on July 30, the RSF described the operation as a “qualitative and strategic victory,” declaring that their units had imposed complete control over Umm Samima after what they called “decisive” engagements. The force said the advance marks a new stage in their campaign and signals continued progress toward what they termed “the liberation of the homeland.”
The fighting around Umm Samima has been fierce throughout July. Earlier this month, the RSF seized the area, only to lose it shortly afterward in a counteroffensive by the SAF. The latest assault, however, has returned control to the RSF, underscoring the fluid and volatile nature of the North Kordofan front.
Located roughly 60 kilometers from El Obeid, Umm Samima holds major strategic value. For the SAF, maintaining control there would allow an overland link toward West Kordofan and a potential route to push into Darfur, as well as relieve pressure on El Obeid, which has been under an RSF siege for months.
The RSF statement framed this latest advance as part of a wider military plan tied to the political transition underway in Sudan. “This is the first sign of the new government taking shape on the ground,” the statement read. The RSF pledged to continue their campaign, saying they were entering a decisive phase of the conflict aimed at delivering “justice for marginalized communities” and rebuilding Sudan on “fair and inclusive foundations.”
