Renewed Clashes Erupt in Sudan's South Kordofan as Conflict Intensifies

Alanbatnews -

Fighting has flared again in Sudan's South Kordofan state, pitting the Sudanese army and its allies against the 'Foundation' alliance, which includes the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM). The renewed violence follows a fragile lull after the army broke a siege on the state's two largest cities, Kadugli and Dilling.

Sources reported intense clashes on Sunday near Dilling, the state's second-largest city, as the army confronted an attack by the RSF and SPLM forces. Pro-army sources claimed that the military repelled the assault, which originated from three directions – north, west, and east of Dilling – preventing the attacking forces from advancing. The army has reportedly begun clearing operations around the city, seizing combat vehicles and motorcycles.

Conversely, RSF platforms asserted that 'Foundation' alliance forces had seized control of Al-Takama, a town located a few kilometers from Dilling Airport, where the army's 54th Infantry Brigade is stationed. This brigade is part of the 14th Infantry Division in Kadugli.

Conflicting reports have emerged from the army and the RSF regarding the attack and its outcomes. It remains unclear whether the attacking forces made significant progress or approached the city limits, marking the first major offensive since the army broke the RSF's siege on Dilling and Kadugli. Platforms aligned with the 'Foundation' alliance claimed to have severed the road linking Dilling to Habila, a crucial supply route for forces deployed in the city. According to these platforms, cutting off the road constitutes a 're-imposition of the siege' on government forces inside Dilling.

The RSF and its ally, the SPLM, are attempting to re-encircle Dilling and sever the supply lines that the army reopened. These lines were re-established on January 25 when the siege on the city was broken.

In Al-Abyad, the capital of North Kordofan state, Sudan Tribune cited sources reporting that nine people were killed on Saturday in a drone strike targeting a gathering of citizens inspecting a previous bombing site in the city's market. The Saturday attack reportedly destroyed consumer goods warehouses, shops, car repair workshops, and one of the largest oil factories.

Extensive drone operations targeting Al-Abyad, ongoing for several weeks, have caused significant damage to infrastructure and service facilities, according to platforms aligned with the army and its allies. The RSF claims to be targeting military installations, weapons and fuel depots, vehicles, and soldiers.

Kadugli and Dilling have endured intermittent sieges by the RSF for over a year, intensifying after the formation of the alliance between the RSF and the SPLM, led by Abdel Aziz Adam al-Hilu.

The siege has created a severe humanitarian crisis among civilians, with shortages of food, medicine, and essential supplies. Many residents have been forced to eat tree leaves, while more than 800,000 have been displaced, primarily to SPLM-controlled areas in Kauda and other towns.

After prolonged battles, the army and its allied joint force managed to break the siege on the two cities. However, their forces have not moved outside the city limits, while the RSF and SPLM remain outside the cities to the west.

Government forces control most of the cities in South Kordofan state, while the RSF controls the Al-Dubaibat locality in the north of the state and the western parts of the state, in cooperation with SPLM forces, which have controlled the Kauda region.