NEW MAP | Overview of territorial control in Sudan conflict – March 6, 2026

KHARTOUM – The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) on Thursday captured the strategic town of Bara in North Kordofan, partially securing the key highway linking Khartoum State and central Sudan to the Darfur region. However, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continue to control Jabra El-Sheikh locality north of Bara and close to the border with Khartoum State.

Control of Jabra El-Sheikh would give the Sudanese army a significant operational advantage along the corridor. If captured, SAF could move supplies more directly between Khartoum and El-Obeid, rather than relying on the longer Khartoum–Kosti–El-Obeid route currently used for logistics.

Meanwhile, the RSF seized Bardab village, located west of the main road connecting Kadugli to Dilling and north of the South Kordofan state capital. The advance follows a series of RSF captures in recent days that have effectively restored the siege on both Kadugli and Dilling.

The renewed isolation reverses gains made earlier this year, when Sudanese military operations in January and February partially lifted the sieges imposed by RSF and allied forces since 2024.

Across the broader battlefield, SAF controls the entire central Sudan as well as large areas to the north, east and southeast. One notable exception is southern Blue Nile region, where RSF and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement–North (SPLM-N) hold pockets of territory near the Ethiopian and South Sudanese borders.

The RSF, meanwhile, maintains control over nearly all of the Darfur region, with the exception of Tina locality near the Chadian border in North Darfur and the desert airbase at Al-Atrun near the border with Northern State.

The rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement–North (SPLM-N), led by Abdelaziz al-Hilu, controls territory south of Kadugli extending toward Kauda, which serves as the group’s main headquarters in the Nuba Mountains. The movement also holds pockets of territory further south along the border with South Sudan, including areas east of the Heglig oilfields.

The rebel outfit appears to have played little direct role in the latest fighting around Dilling and Kadugli despite being part of the RSF-backed Sudan Founding Alliance (Ta’asis). Videos and other visual evidence reviewed show no clear indication of SPLM-N participation in the current operations.

Further west, other rebel factions such as the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA-AW) remain in control of the Jebel Marra massif, including areas around Nertiti in Central Darfur and Al-Tawila in North Darfur.