Darfur governor and Sudan Liberation Movement leader Minni Arko Minnawi announced the recapture on Saturday, confirming that Joint Forces had taken control of Um Sumeima and released footage to support the claim. Earlier the same day, the RSF had released its own footage claiming full control of the town, underscoring the fluidity of frontline control.

Um Sumeima lies along a major route into El-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan, where SAF troops have been regrouping after a series of RSF advances. Military control over towns like Um Sumeima is seen as critical to the broader campaign to defend El-Obeid and regain momentum in Kordofan.

Minnawi’s fighters are part of a coalition of Darfuri armed groups that abandoned neutrality in late 2023 to fight alongside the SAF. Their involvement has proven decisive in recent months across both Darfur and Kordofan.

Regional Escalation Raises Alarm

The fighting in Um Sumeima comes amid a wider escalation following the army’s recapture of Khartoum and Al-Jazira. The RSF has since turned its attention to western and southern Sudan, launching renewed offensives across North Kordofan and Darfur.

The United Nations has expressed alarm over the rising civilian toll and humanitarian crisis. UN Human Rights Commissioner Volker Turk recently warned of deteriorating conditions and urged all parties to halt violence and allow safe passage for civilians trapped in conflict zones.

As control of key towns like Um Sumeima shifts rapidly, the conflict—now in its third year—continues to displace millions and further strain Sudan’s fractured political landscape.