Bara Returns: The Courage of Its Army and the Taste of Its Lemons

By: Naval Colonel (Ret.) Osama Mohamed Abdelrahim

The Sudanese Armed Forces have continued their march of victory and glory, reclaiming yesterday the city of Bara in North Kordofan, spreading joy across the Sudanese people. A march written in lives and blood, fueled by sacrifice and devotion—nothing unusual for an army long renowned for courage and valor. Bara, once wounded and taken, now returns to the embrace of the nation and the protection of its soldiers.

In the ever-unfolding chronicle of triumph penned by the Sudanese army through the sacrifices of its men, Bara rises again today—free, proud, and unyielding to rebellion, conspiracy, or treachery. The city’s liberation is not just another entry in the geography of war, but a decisive milestone in the struggle of resilience and sacrifice. Just as the martyrs’ blood sanctified the soil of Jabal Moya east of Al-Jazira and west of Sennar, Bara now inscribes a new chapter in the saga of liberation—affirming that the army’s will does not falter, its determination does not break, and the homeland endures as long as soldiers stand firm on the battlefield.

Situated some 317 kilometers from Khartoum and just 63 kilometers from El-Obeid, Bara is the very navel of western Sudan—if not of the entire country. It is a crossroads of trade, agriculture, and cultural exchange, long celebrated for its generosity and fertile soil. Its lemons became so famous they were immortalized in Sudanese song—“Bara’s lemons” became both melody and memory in the nation’s collective heart.

Bara is more than just a city in western Sudan—it is a microcosm of the nation itself. Its ethnic, cultural, and social diversity make it a truly national hub of commerce and community life.

The city’s recovery carries great military and political weight. It marks the first major urban center retaken after a long absence of such victories, signaling the start of a new phase in the battle:

It opens the way for the army’s advance across the west, toward Omdurman–Bara road, a strategic artery connecting central, northern, and eastern Sudan to the west and beyond.

It represents the first “domino” to fall, paving the way for the collapse of other occupied towns and positions.

It cuts off enemy supply lines from central Sudan, while strengthening the army’s own logistical connections and expanding security perimeters.

It improves El-Obeid’s breathing space, opening routes westward toward El-Fasher, where the decisive battle to end the rebellion once and for all awaits.

Militarily and symbolically, Bara’s return is as significant as the army’s earlier victories at Jabal Moya, in western Sennar, and along the White Nile—turning points that spelled the beginning of the insurgency’s collapse in the east. Today, Bara foreshadows the same fate for the rebellion in the west.

This victory also highlights the role of leadership and national resolve. It was no accident: the General Command had dispatched senior commanders months ago to oversee planning and operations on the ground, and the presence of both military and political leadership in the theater of operations gave troops a powerful moral boost. This harmony between political and military leadership—unified in vision and will—strengthened the army’s capacity to execute its plans with professionalism and precision, offering a lesson in strategic planning and national resolve.

The liberation of Bara signifies much more than a battlefield gain. It proves:

The army’s capacity to reassess, reorganize, and execute operations with high professionalism.

The cutting of enemy supply lines and the extension of army control deeper into the west.

The opening of multiple routes and options for advancing on major cities, up to El-Fasher itself.

The destruction of enemy drone-launching platforms in the region, depriving the insurgency of forward bases to strike both the army and civilian areas.

Above all, Bara’s return is a declaration: the army has recalibrated, reorganized, and embarked on a new phase of widening its options and striking deeper into enemy territory. From Bara begins the road to El-Fasher; from Bara begins the collapse of the rebellion in the west—just as it began to crumble in the east.

This is not merely a military victory, but a triumph of national spirit, popular memory, and the enduring symbols of identity—of courage, sacrifice, and even the sweetness of its famed lemons.

Bara today is not just a liberated city—it is the harbinger of the rebellion’s end and the gateway to a brighter dawn. Truly: Bara has returned—through the courage of its army, and the taste of its lemons.