The Sudanese army recaptured the town of Mabsut in South Kordofan state in the country’s south on Tuesday, after battles with forces allied with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), witnesses said.

Army forces established control over Mabsut, west of the locality of Al-Abbasiya Tagali, after clashes with forces of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), witnesses told Anadolu.

With the new gain, the Sudanese army now controls all areas west of Al-Abbasiya Tagali.

Army personnel also posted videos on social media claiming the takeover of Mabsut.

Control over key routes

Al-Abbasiya Tagali has a special importance as it links between the northern and southern parts of South Kordofan, and gives the army control over key routes that influence the movement of troops and civilians in the area.

On Sunday, the Sudanese army gained control over several areas west of Al-Abbasiya Tagali after clashes with the RSF.

The RSF now controls all five Darfur states, out of Sudan’s 18 states, while the army holds most of the remaining 13 states, including Khartoum.

The conflict in Sudan between the army and the RSF, which began in April 2023, has killed at least 40,000 people and displaced 12 million, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).