A significant new wave of displacement is unfolding in Sudan, with tens of thousands of civilians forced to abandon their homes following a major shift in the country’s ongoing civil war. According to reports from a United Nations agency, more than 36,000 people have fled localities in North Kordofan state over a recent six-day period.
This mass exodus comes in the wake of the capture of the strategic city of El Fasher by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The area between Darfur and the capital region has now become a primary battleground, with many of those displaced traveling on foot towards the town of Tawila. This destination is already overwhelmed, providing shelter to over 650,000 people who had previously been displaced by the conflict.
Residents in North Kordofan report a substantial military buildup, with both the national army and the RSF reinforcing their positions. The focus of the fighting appears to be the strategic capital of North Kordofan, El Obeid, a vital logistical hub. One resident from a town west of El Obeid stated that the increased presence of armed vehicles has instilled such fear that farmers have ceased working their land.
Concerns are mounting over the conduct of the war. International officials have raised alarms about the potential for large-scale atrocities and ethnically motivated violence, warning that patterns observed in Darfur may be repeating. Separately, Sudan’s ambassador to Egypt has publicly accused the RSF of committing war crimes and has called for the group to be designated as a terrorist organization.
The international community is facing renewed calls for action, with appeals for an immediate ceasefire and the establishment of secure humanitarian corridors to alleviate the suffering of civilians caught in the conflict.
