Sudan’s army is clinging to its final stronghold in West Kordofan as the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) intensify their push to seize control of the province east of Darfur. The army reported on Sunday that it repelled an attack on its headquarters in the town of Babnusa, which has faced repeated assaults from RSF forces in recent weeks.
The RSF, which has consolidated control over Darfur, is advancing eastward, prompting warnings of widespread atrocities and a worsening humanitarian crisis. On Saturday, the paramilitary group released videos from Babnusa showing fighters claiming they were advancing along multiple axes and would soon “liberate” the area.
Satellite imagery analyzed by Al Jazeera between September 9 and November 13 revealed extensive damage to army facilities in Babnusa, including thick smoke rising from headquarters and evidence of drone strikes. Shelling and repeated attacks have restricted army movements and destroyed surrounding infrastructure.
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Despite this, recent verified footage shows Sudanese army soldiers from the 22nd Division celebrating the capture of armored vehicles abandoned by retreating RSF fighters. Government forces also recaptured Kazqil and Um Dam Haj Ahmed in North Kordofan, while the RSF continues its push toward the strategic city of el-Obeid and the South Kordofan capital, Kadugli.
Colonel Hatem Karim al-Falahi, a military expert, told Al Jazeera that the ability of the army to hold key cities like Babnusa will shape Sudan’s military balance and influence future operations. “The army is strengthening defensive lines and providing air support to maintain control of strategic locations,” he said.
The conflict has unleashed a severe humanitarian disaster, particularly in RSF-controlled areas. Following the fall of el-Fasher, the last government stronghold in Darfur, reports have emerged of hunger, mass displacement, and widespread violence against civilians.
The Sudan Doctors Network confirmed 32 cases of rape among girls fleeing el-Fasher in the past week, with victims recounting attacks by RSF fighters during their escape. United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher described the situation as “unimaginable suffering,” calling Darfur “the world’s capital of human suffering” and warning that international aid remains insufficient.
As the RSF presses its offensive across Kordofan, prospects for a ceasefire remain uncertain. The United States and regional actors have proposed negotiations, but both sides continue fighting, with the outcome likely to determine the strategic trajectory of Sudan’s ongoing civil conflict.
