Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) announced on Thursday that they have fully captured the strategic city of Al-Fula, the capital of West Kordofan state.
The RSF shared videos of their leaders speaking from the local government headquarters, confirming the takeover.
Local sources said the RSF attacked Al-Fula, leading to fierce clashes with the Sudanese army at the military garrison. Dozens were killed, but the exact number of civilian and military casualties is still unclear.
West Kordofan is strategically important due to its large oil fields. Controlling Al-Fula gives the RSF a significant advantage for future attacks in the state and secures supply routes through Darfur.
The city is also crucial because oil pipelines from South Sudan pass through it for export via the Red Sea.
The RSF announced on its official X account: “Our forces have liberated the brigade of the 22nd Division in Babnusa (another town in West Kordofan) from Burhan’s terrorist militia (referring to Sudanese army leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan).”
The Sudanese army has not responded.
In response to the fall of Al-Fula, the West Kordofan state government urged all “mobilized forces and popular resistance” to prepare for a decisive battle to expel the “rebel militia (RSF)” from the state.
The government condemned the RSF’s attack and the looting of markets and civilian areas.
It noted that Al-Fula is home to thousands of civilians who have fled other parts of the state due to militia attacks, calling these actions a violation of international law.
The Babnusa Emergency Room reported that Al-Fula has received thousands of people fleeing the ongoing conflict in recent months.
RSF commanders had previously threatened to overrun the city and warned army forces and officials to leave.
