WEST KORDOFAN- Conflicting statements from Sudan’s rival forces have emerged over the control of Al-Khuwei city in West Kordofan, as the region continues to witness some of the most intense fighting in recent weeks. Both the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and its ally Joint Forces, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) claim control of the strategic town, amid reports of shifting frontlines and heavy clashes.
On Thursday, a spokesperson for the Joint Forces said that SAF, Joint Forces units, and local resistance fighters had successfully repelled an RSF attack. According to the statement “The army forces, the Joint Forces, and the popular resistance repelled an attack by the rebel Rapid Support militia on Al-Khuwei city in West Kordofan State.”
The spokesperson described the attack as part of a broader RSF push to seize more ground in West Kordofan but claimed their forces held the line.
However, the RSF issued a counterclaim, asserting that its troops had take full control of the city following a successful offensive. In a sharply worded statement, the RSF declared: “Our forces have completely taken control of Al-Khuwei city in West Kordofan state from the army of the terrorist Islamic Movement, the Burhan militia, and the mercenaries of the mercenary movements.”
The RSF statement reflects the group’s consistent narrative of framing its adversaries in ideological and sectarian terms, often linking the SAF to the former regime and accusing it of employing foreign fighters and extremist elements.
The RSF also announced additional territorial gains in the region, claiming its fighters had captured two key areas in other Kordofan battlefronts. According to a statement, “Our forces took control of the areas of Al-Hammadi and Kazgil on the fighting fronts in the Kordofan region.”
While neither side’s claim could be independently verified at the time of publication, video footage published on Friday by RSF-affiliated social media accounts appears to show RSF troops inside Al-Khuwei. The footage shows RSF soldiers patrolling streets and declaring victory, suggesting the paramilitary group currently holds at least partial control of the city.
Military experts say this kind of media release is a core part of the RSF’s strategy to shape perceptions of momentum in its favor, particularly in contested zones. The Kordofan region, including Al-Khuwei, has witnessed near-constant fighting over the past month, with control of cities like Al-Khuwei, Al-Hammadi, and Kazgil changing hands multiple times.
These contested cities sit along key strategic corridors, with Al-Khuwei serving as a junction between North and West Kordofan, making it a vital point for logistics and military operations.
For civilians, the fluctuating control has meant living under the threat of shelling, displacement, and violence from both sides. As both the SAF and RSF continue to battle for dominance in Kordofan and across Sudan, the humanitarian situation remains dire, and the information landscape increasingly fragmented.
Analysts warn that in the absence of independent verification, documentation, and access for aid agencies and journalists, such contradictory narratives will continue to dominate Sudan’s war reporting – leaving the actual status of Al-Khuwei uncertain amid the fog of war.
