Sudanese army frees hundreds of civilians after recapturing North Kordofan town

The Sudanese army freed hundreds of civilians that had been held captive by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) after regaining control of an area in the country's south.

Troops from Sudan’s regular army took back control of Um Qulayb in the North Kordofan state following clashes with the RSF.

Videos of army personnel announcing their victory were shared on social media, but The New Arab could not independently verify them.

Sources told Anadolu Agency that dozens of detained civilians and hundreds of displaced people who were prevented from leaving the area were freed.

On Friday, the Sudanese army announced that it had killed hundreds of RSF fighters and destroyed 240 of their combat vehicles over the past week, in strikes on RSF positions in the western Darfur and southern Kordofan regions.

The greater Kordofan region is currently facing some of the fiercest fighting in Sudan's war between the army and the RSF, as both seek to wrest control of the massive southern region.

The RSF controls swathes of Kordofan along with their allies, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) faction led by Abdelaziz al-Hilu, which has a historic foothold in the region's Nuba Mountains.

The RSF also controls the vast Darfur region, which constitutes about a fifth of Sudan’s total area.

This effectively splits the country in two – while the army holds the centre, east and north, the RSF and its allies control the west and parts of the south.

According to recent data shared by the UN, about 9.3 million people in Sudan remain internally displaced, while more than 4.3 million have fled across borders, placing enormous pressure on neighboring countries to accommodate these refugees.

Friday marked 1,000 days since the war began in April 2023.

UN agencies describe the situation as grim, and say Sudan is facing the world’s worst hunger and displacement crises.

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says more than 21 million people are suffering from acute food insecurity.

Estimates say more than 150,000 people have been killed so far, but the true death toll is believed to be much higher.