Escalation of Fighting in South Kordofan and UN Fears of "Repeating the Horrors of El Fasher"

The Sudanese state of South Kordofan is witnessing a significant military escalation amid the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, with new troop mobilizations and intensifying sieges on key cities, alongside UN warnings of serious humanitarian consequences.

Military movements of the Rapid Support Forces have been observed, including the transfer of convoys and military equipment from West Kordofan to several points in the northern part of South Kordofan, according to local media reports. These reinforcements appear aimed at supporting the forces of the "Popular Movement" led by Abdel Aziz al-Hilu, and relieving pressure on them after strikes by the army in the eastern mountains, which have seen violent clashes in recent days.

It is also believed that the strategic objective of these mobilizations is to launch attacks on the besieged cities of Delingen and Kadugli, in an attempt to control Kadugli, the capital of the state, and Delingen, its second-largest city, thereby enhancing the influence of the Rapid Support Forces in this troubled region.

For its part, the Popular Movement has reaffirmed its position regarding the two cities, having previously announced that "liberating the cities of Delingen and Kadugli is a matter of time." It has called in previous statements for the army to "withdraw and leave these cities without losses," urging it to "spare the blood of civilians and protect the cities from destruction and devastation," while emphasizing the "necessity of opening corridors for citizens to escape to safe areas and not preventing them from protecting their lives."

The two cities, under army control, are suffering from a severe blockade imposed by the Popular Movement and the Rapid Support Forces for nearly two years, leading to a dire humanitarian situation characterized by acute shortages of food and health services, despite attempts by relief organizations to carry out air drops of aid.

The cities are also subjected to repeated shelling, with one recent airstrike on civilian facilities in the Kadugli area resulting in the deaths of nearly a hundred people, including dozens of children, and other injuries, according to local sources.

Internationally, the United Nations has expressed deep concern over the developments in the region. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, stated in press remarks: "He is deeply concerned about the possibility of repeating the atrocities committed in El Fasher in Kordofan."

This escalation in the strategic Kordofan region comes after weeks of intense fighting, following the Rapid Support Forces' takeover of the entire neighboring Darfur region last October.

It is worth noting that the ongoing conflict since April 2023 between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces has resulted, according to UN estimates, in the deaths of tens of thousands and the displacement of more than 12 million people, creating the "worst humanitarian crisis" in the world, a crisis that shows signs of deepening as the escalation continues on fronts like South Kordofan.