Reasons for the Sudanese Army’s Advances and the Rapid Support Forces’ Retreat in Central Sudan

Report by: Abdalraouf Taha

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have rapidly lost nearly complete control over their areas of deployment in central Sudan. Previously, they had expanded from central Khartoum to the outskirts of Damazin, located 600 kilometers south, and from the southeast to the Abu Rakham area near the borders of Gedaref State in eastern Sudan.

The RSF’s expansion was not limited to the south and central parts of the country; they also moved eastward into the Fao district of Gedaref, seizing several towns. However, the Sudanese Army launched swift military operations that forced the RSF to retreat to the outskirts of the capital.

Fierce Battles

Central Sudan is a strategic heartland of the country and has witnessed intense battles between the Sudanese Army and the RSF, particularly in Jebel Moya, Sennar State. The battle there lasted for days, with the army heavily deploying warplanes and drones. This prompted RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti) to claim in a press statement that a neighboring country had defeated his forces in Jebel Moya through its air force.

Jebel Moya, surrounded by high mountain ranges, is a crucial link between central, western, southern, and eastern Sudan. The RSF took control of it in July 2024 through well-coordinated attacks led by their commander in Sennar, Major Abdalrahman Al-Beishi. However, he was later killed in an airstrike by the Sudanese Air Force in Taybat Al-Lahwein, near Jebel Moya.

Following its capture of Jebel Moya, the Sudanese Army managed to cut off RSF supply lines in Senja, Dinder, Abu Hajar, and Dalnil, near Damazin. The army then launched intense ground attacks, reclaiming most of Sennar State, including its capital, Senja. This also broke the RSF siege on Sennar, which had lasted for months. From Sennar and Senja, the army moved westward towards Sennar Sugar Factory and deeper into Al-Jazira State, advancing from Wad Al-Haddad to Wad Madani.

Reasons for the RSF’s Retreat

Several key factors contributed to the Sudanese Army’s success in central Sudan—especially in Sennar and Al-Jazira States—forcing the RSF to retreat over 600 kilometers back to the borders of Khartoum State. These include:

1. Air Superiority – The Sudanese Army’s air force played a decisive role by cutting RSF supply lines.

2. Targeted Strikes – Drones and airstrikes eliminated top RSF commanders in central Sudan, including Major Abdalrahman Al-Beishi (RSF commander in Sennar), Major General Abdullah Hussein (RSF commander in Al-Jazira), and Mahdi Rahma (also known as Jalha), a key RSF leader in Al-Jazira.

3. Defections to the Army – The Sudan Shield Forces, led by Abu Aqila Kikel—who was previously an RSF commander in Al-Jazira—joined the Sudanese Army, significantly influencing the battles in central Sudan, according to analysts.

Political analyst Abdalmajed Abd Al-Hamid told Al Jazeera Net that the Sudanese Army’s recent acquisition of advanced weaponry, including long-range drones and air power, played a critical role in its victories. He added that the army adopted a strategy of exhausting the RSF in central Sudan by imposing a decisive siege while leveraging its deep knowledge of the terrain.

Furthermore, the army benefited from local social dynamics. Popular resistance forces in central Sudan aligned with the military, creating a significant advantage against the RSF.

Decisive Strikes

The army’s rapid advances in central Sudan were unexpected. It managed to take control of more than ten major towns, including Wad Madani, Senja, Al-Hasahisa, Rufaa, Um Al-Qura, Dinder, Hajj Abdullah, and Al-Housh.

According to Major Bassam Abu Sattour, a key field commander in central Sudan, the RSF lacks a combat doctrine or clear principles, while the Sudanese Armed Forces, backed by resistance fighters, acted at the right moment to expel them from the region.

However, an anonymous RSF military source told Al Jazeera Net that their forces withdrew from central Sudan, emphasizing that war is a series of advances and retreats. He asserted that the RSF had not lost hope and planned to launch counter-offensives in the region.

Similarly, political analyst Ismail Abdullah, who is aligned with the RSF, stated that their forces did not lose battles in central Sudan but instead chose to withdraw tactically. He claimed they were reorganizing and preparing for a renewed military presence in the area.

Atrocities and Popular Resistance

During its control of central Sudan, the RSF was accused of committing widespread atrocities against civilians, particularly in eastern Al-Jazira State and towns in Sennar. UN reports and international condemnations documented these human rights violations.

These abuses prompted many young men in central Sudan to join the Sudanese Army through popular resistance movements. Their participation played a crucial role in the battles.

According to former popular resistance spokesperson Ammar Hassan, the RSF’s entry into Wad Madani motivated many young people to take up arms to defend their land, families, and property. He added that businessmen and local youth rallied behind the Sudanese Army, providing critical support that ultimately led to the RSF’s expulsion from central Sudan.

Source: Al Jazeera Net