Expert: Sudanese Army Withdrawals are "Tactical" and Therefore it Insists on Al-Obeid and Babnusa

SadaNews - Battles are intensifying in the states of North and South Kordofan in Sudan, becoming one of the hottest and most impactful fronts in the military scene, especially with the army talking about "tactical withdrawals" and movements to reposition its forces.

Military expert Colonel Hatim Kareem Al-Falaki believes that the battlefield scene in Sudan is witnessing a reshaping of the army's priorities, with cities such as Babnusa (one of the largest cities in West Kordofan) and Al-Obeid (the capital of North Kordofan) turning into areas of significant strategic importance.

Al-Falaki expressed - during his analysis of the military scene in Sudan - that the army's deployment in Babnusa represents a "local" defense aimed at preventing the Rapid Support Forces from strongly dominating the city.

This development comes at a time when military leadership is treating other areas - such as Um Sayala - as of no strategic importance, making the withdrawal appear "tactical".

This withdrawal is not the first of its kind, but is - according to Al-Falaki - a tactic similar to what happened previously in Al-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, aimed at moving forces to fronts that grant the army greater influence in the balance of the battle.

Yesterday, Monday, a military source confirmed the withdrawal of the Sudanese army and its supporting forces from the town of Um Sayala in North Kordofan, just hours after retaking it from Rapid Support Forces.

Al-Falaki believes that controlling areas such as "Bara" - one of the prominent cities in North Kordofan - enhances the army's defenses around the city of Al-Obeid, which is a stronghold in the region, allowing the encirclement of surrounding areas to cut off supply routes from "Rapid Support", making it more difficult for them to seize the city.

In this context, a military source in the Sudanese army told Al Jazeera that army forces are engaged in fierce battles with the Rapid Support in several cities in North Kordofan, confirming that the announcement of control over the city of "Bara" is imminent.

Conversely, the expert points out that the "Rapid Support" forces are heavily focusing on using drones to strike army positions in various directions, in an attempt to impose a tight siege on the cities.

However, he emphasizes that this type of operations requires significant capabilities that cannot be achieved without providing a large number of fighters, which the Rapid Support Forces resort to by bringing in mercenaries from African countries.

After recently taking control of the city of Al-Fasher, Rapid Support has mobilized large forces in an attempt to seize major cities in the Kordofan region.

According to Al-Falaki, the army is currently working on fortifying its defenses, securing oil facilities near Babnusa, enhancing defenses and preparing for operations to regain the territories it lost, which requires "time and substantial resources".

As for the call of the head of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, Abd al-Fattah al-Burhan, for the people to arm themselves, Al-Falaki sees it as a call for "general mobilization", reflecting the army's need for human resources that can be utilized in confrontation, especially as the forces need to confront Rapid Support in the Kordofan or Darfur regions.

Since mid-April 2023, Sudan has been witnessing a military conflict between the army and Rapid Support that has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands and the displacement of about 13 million people.

Source: Al Jazeera