**Sudan Army Reports RSF Advances on Key Town Bordering Ethiopia**
**Date: August 13, 2026**
Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), alongside allies from the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement – North (SPLM-N), have made significant advances into the town of Kurmuk, located in Blue Nile State near the border with Ethiopia. This development comes as military and government sources inform that the Sudanese army has begun to withdraw from the area.
According to a statement from the RSF, their coalition has inflicted substantial losses on army troops stationed in Kurmuk, leading to the army's retreat and the seizure of military equipment, including weapons and ammunition. Local administration officials in Kurmuk reported that the town has faced intensive attacks over the past three days, with drone and artillery strikes reportedly originating from neighboring regions.
The local authorities have indicated that the Sudanese army is actively defending Kurmuk, asserting that they are confronting the RSF's advances with "steadfastness and bravery." The strategic importance of Kurmuk lies in its position as a vital cross-border route linking Ethiopia with the Blue Nile region and the broader Nile Valley.
Al Jazeera correspondent Almigdad Alruhaid, reporting from Khartoum, noted that the RSF's entry into Kurmuk follows a period of fluctuating control over the town. The RSF initially seized Kurmuk in March 2026, but the Sudanese army managed to reclaim it last month. The ongoing conflict in Sudan, which erupted in April 2023, has stemmed from disputes over the integration of the RSF into the regular military forces.
The humanitarian impact of this conflict has been severe, with estimates from the United Nations indicating that tens of thousands have lost their lives, and nearly 15 million people have been displaced or forced to flee their homes due to the violence.
In a separate incident, the Sudanese army reported successfully repelling an RSF attack on the town of Jabra al-Sheikh in North Kordofan. Military sources stated that the RSF launched the assault using heavy artillery and drones, resulting in the capture of several RSF fighters and numerous casualties among their ranks. The army's statement highlighted that the RSF's attack involved over 250 combat vehicles.
Jabra al-Sheikh serves as a crucial transport hub in the region, and control of this town could enable the RSF to exert pressure on el-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan, as well as Omdurman, which is located near Khartoum. The recent escalation in violence follows coordinated drone strikes by the RSF targeting five army-controlled cities, which resulted in civilian casualties and disrupted local markets.
The ongoing conflict has been characterized by widespread atrocities, with rights groups documenting severe human rights violations committed by both sides. The situation has escalated to what the UN describes as a "war of atrocities," contributing to one of the largest hunger and displacement crises in the world.
As the situation in Sudan continues to evolve, the international community remains concerned about the humanitarian implications and the urgent need for assistance to those affected by the conflict. The Red Cross and other humanitarian organizations have called for increased international aid as the crisis deepens.