Why this strategic border city could turn the tide in Sudan
The Sudanese army has launched a massive, large-scale offensive to recapture Kurmuk, a vital border city in the southeastern Blue Nile state. Heavy fighting erupted on the city’s outskirts as government forces targeted front-line positions held by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the allied Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N).
Kurmuk, which fell to the rebel alliance in March, is a highly prized prize in the devastating conflict. Situated right on the Ethiopian border, the city acts as a critical choke point controlling key supply lines, military communication networks, and overland trade routes connecting Sudan to both Ethiopia and South Sudan, News.Az reports, citing Anadolu Agency.
This latest assault follows a string of successful territorial gains for the army, which has been steadily reclaiming areas along the southern borders. The fierce battle for Kurmuk is part of the broader, catastrophic civil war that began in April 2023. The ongoing conflict between the army and the RSF has triggered one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, killing tens of thousands and displacing an estimated 13 million people.