The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) say they are preparing a renewed military campaign to regain control of the Kordofan and Darfur regions from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), as Sudan civil war stretches deeper into its third year.
In a statement, the army said it has been assessing the RSF’s resources and capabilities and has placed a large number of military formations on high readiness ahead of a planned operation.
According to the SAF, a full-scale offensive to “liberate” central Kordofan and western Darfur would exceed the complexity and preparation involved in the recapture of Khartoum in March.
Troop Movements and Air Strikes Underway
Reporting from Khartoum, Al Jazeera correspondent Hiba Moran said the army has already begun repositioning forces across Kordofan.
“What we’re seeing is the Sudanese army reorganising and redeploying troops in various parts of the Kordofan region,” she said. “They have also retaken some territories and carried out air and drone strikes on RSF positions in both Darfur and Kordofan.”
Moran added that these moves appear to be the initial phase of a broader offensive aimed at restoring control over the two regions.
Army Claims Heavy Losses Inflicted on RSF
On Friday, the SAF said it had inflicted significant damage on RSF forces during recent air and ground operations. The military claimed it destroyed around 240 combat vehicles and killed hundreds of RSF fighters in strikes across Darfur and Kordofan.
The army also said its ground forces had pushed RSF units out of large areas, with operations continuing to pursue remaining fighters.
Darfur Governor Minni Arko Minnawi said recent army action in Kordofan had prevented the RSF from besieging el-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan.
Civilians Seek Clear Gains on the Ground
Despite official statements, Moran said residents in Kordofan remain unconvinced.
“People want to return to their homes and see the RSF withdraw from areas it has taken,” she said. “So far, that hasn’t happened.”
Meanwhile, violence continues. A drone attack on Monday in Habila, South Kordofan, reportedly killed five people. The attack was attributed to the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement–North, an RSF ally.
Darfur Crisis Deepens
The RSF’s renewed advances in Darfur and Kordofan have displaced millions more civilians. Both sides in the conflict have been accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity, with the RSF linked to atrocities in Darfur that the United Nations says may amount to genocide.
The UN recently described el-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, as a “crime scene” after gaining access to the city for the first time since it fell to the RSF in October. Aid workers found the city largely abandoned after months of siege and violence.
More than 100,000 residents fled el-Fasher after RSF forces took control on October 26, with survivors reporting ethnically targeted killings and mass detentions.
Humanitarian Emergency Worsens
As fighting continues and global aid funding declines, humanitarian groups warn that more than 33 million people are now at risk of starvation. The conflict has displaced around 11 million people inside Sudan and across its borders, creating what aid agencies describe as the world’s largest displacement and hunger crisis.
Government Returns to Khartoum
Sudanese Prime Minister Kamil Idris announced on Sunday that the government has resumed operations in Khartoum after nearly three years based in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan.
“Today, we return, and the government of hope returns to the national capital,” Idris said.
The army-aligned government fled Khartoum in April 2023 when fighting erupted and the RSF rapidly overran much of the city. Its return follows the army’s gradual reassertion of control over the capital.
As the SAF prepares its next major push, the outcome of the planned offensive in Kordofan and Darfur could prove pivotal in a war that has already devastated Sudan and its people.