Militias launched marches targeting the Al-Shambali Oil Factory in Al-Abied, the capital of North Kordofan, resulting in its destruction as part of a broader campaign by rebel forces aiming to strike economic and civilian assets. A strategic analysis indicates that these frequent marches, which have spanned the last 72 days and impacted medical centers, electricity stations, hospitals, homes, and commercial areas, lack direct military value on the battlefield.
The analysis suggests a shift in tactics toward psychological pressure on the civilian rear rather than frontline engagement, aiming to achieve political and media gains despite military setbacks. The high frequency of these operations appears to be a distraction strategy, attempting to split military command focus between Al-Abied and South Kordofan while trying to project a false sense of initiative. Furthermore, the report emphasizes that the militias lack a full understanding of the Sudanese Army’s combat doctrine and tactical patterns.
This assessment aligns with reports regarding the destruction of educational and medical facilities. Instead of facing the army directly, the militias resorted to “service destruction” to terrorize the local population. The failure to read the army’s patterns has rendered these marches “parade-like,” unable to alter the resilience of Al-Abied, which remains strong due to the awareness and cohesion of its leadership and citizens.
