Escalation of Conflict in South Kordofan Raises UN Concerns Over Humanitarian Crisis
South Kordofan, Sudan, is experiencing a marked military escalation due to the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces. This situation has led to new troop movements and intensified sieges of key cities, with the United Nations warning of severe humanitarian repercussions.
Reports indicate that the Rapid Support Forces are mobilizing troops and military equipment from West Kordofan to various locations in northern South Kordofan. These reinforcements appear aimed at supporting the "People's Movement" led by Abdel Aziz al-Hilu and alleviating pressure on their forces following recent army attacks in the eastern mountain region, which have resulted in intense fighting.
The strategic objective of these troop movements is believed to be initiating assaults on the besieged cities of Delingen and Kadugli, with the intent of gaining control over Kadugli, the state capital, and Delingen, the second-largest city, thereby enhancing the influence of the Rapid Support Forces in this volatile area.
The People's Movement has reiterated its stance regarding the two cities, stating that "the liberation of Delingen and Kadugli is only a matter of time." In previous statements, they urged the army to "withdraw and hand over these cities without casualties" and called for measures to "protect civilian lives and prevent destruction and devastation," emphasizing the need to open evacuation corridors for citizens seeking safety.
Both cities, currently under army control, have endured a suffocating siege by the People's Movement and the Rapid Support Forces for nearly two years, leading to a dire humanitarian situation characterized by acute food shortages and lack of healthcare services, despite humanitarian organizations' efforts to conduct air drops of aid supplies.
The cities have also been subjected to repeated bombings, with a recent airstrike on civilian facilities in Kadugli reportedly claiming the lives of nearly one hundred individuals, including many children, and leaving numerous others injured.
On the international front, the United Nations has expressed deep concern regarding the developments in the region. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk stated in a press release that he is "deeply worried about the potential for a repetition of the atrocities committed in El Fasher in Kordofan."
This escalation in the strategic Kordofan region follows weeks of intense fighting after the Rapid Support Forces gained full control over the neighboring Darfur region in the west of the country last October.
It is important to note that the conflict, which has been ongoing since April 2023 between the Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces, has reportedly claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced over 12 million people, marking what the UN describes as "the worst humanitarian crisis" in the world, with signs of worsening conditions in conflict zones like South Kordofan.
