Army Consolidates Control Of Strategic Export Road

El Obeid, August 1, 2026 - The Sudanese army is consolidating control over the Export road linking El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan, to Khartoum, after a major operation pushed the Rapid Support Forces from key towns along the corridor. The army said it had secured the full route between Omdurman and El Obeid following a coordinated offensive that brought Um Siyala, Jabrat al-Sheikh, Um Qirfa, Juraijikh and Bara under its control.

Bara and Um Siyala had previously changed hands multiple times during the war. The corridor is strategically important because it links central Sudan to North Kordofan and affects military logistics, civilian movement and the movement of goods. The army's stated objective was to cut RSF reinforcement lines along the route through a rapid offensive.

RSF units retreated west of Bara toward Al-Mazroub and Um Badr, and toward Sodari in northern and northwestern North Kordofan. The RSF continued to use drones against Um Qirfa, Jabrat al-Sheikh and traffic routes around Bara, underscoring the continuing risk to transport and supply chains even after the army's territorial gains.

The fighting has left Bara heavily damaged, with public infrastructure and service facilities destroyed and the main market looted. The army also temporarily evacuated remaining residents from Um Qirfa because of continuing drone attacks.