The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) announced on Friday, October 2, 2026, that it had captured Al-Mazroub, a town in West Bara locality of North Kordofan state. The town is traditionally associated with the Majanin tribe. According to the SAF, its troops, supported by allied forces including fighters from the Darfur Joint Forces, took control of the area after heavy fighting with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The army reported that RSF fighters suffered heavy losses in personnel and vehicles during the battle. The SAF urged residents of areas it claimed had been recaptured to return to their normal lives, assuring that its forces would protect civilians and property. Videos circulating on social media accounts linked to the army and its allied forces, reviewed by Radio Tamazuj, appeared to show their fighters in Al-Mazroub.
The RSF could not immediately be reached for comment on the situation. The advance comes as the SAF pushes across North Kordofan, where the two sides have fought for control of towns and key routes linking central Sudan with Darfur. This development is part of a broader conflict that has been ongoing since April 2023, when a dispute over the integration of the RSF into the regular army erupted into war.
Sudanese military analyst Jamal Al-Shaheed told Saudi-owned Al Hadath that Kordofan had become a major centre of military operations. He noted that SAF forces had been advancing on several fronts since mid-September. According to Al-Shaheed, the capture of Al-Mazroub would strengthen the army's position along routes towards Darfur.
Al-Shaheed described Al-Mazroub as an important route towards Darfur and stated that the conflict is increasingly focused on control of roads and supply routes rather than individual towns. The analyst's comments highlight the strategic significance of the town and the evolving nature of the conflict.
The conflict between the SAF and RSF has resulted in significant human suffering, with large numbers of people killed and displaced. The fighting has spread across much of Sudan, with Kordofan and Darfur among the main areas of conflict. The situation remains volatile, with ongoing clashes and shifting territorial control.
The capture of Al-Mazroub is a significant development in the ongoing conflict, and its implications will likely be closely watched by observers and stakeholders. The SAF's advances in North Kordofan underscore the complex and dynamic nature of the conflict, which continues to affect many parts of Sudan.
Key points
- The Sudanese army captured Al-Mazroub town in North Kordofan after heavy fighting with the Rapid Support Forces.
- The conflict between the SAF and RSF has resulted in significant human suffering and displaced large numbers of people.
- The capture of Al-Mazroub strengthens the army's position along routes towards Darfur, according to military analyst Jamal Al-Shaheed.
