Sudan: Kordofans (North, South & West States) Field Weekly Reporting (24 – 30 November 2023)

Context Update:

During the reporting period, communal clashes and military confrontations were reported. The three conflicting parties namely Sudan Armed Force (SAF), Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and Sudan People Liberation Movement-North (SPLMN) engaged in many areas of North, South and West Kordofan States.

• Escalation has been reported in West Kordofan state following RSF’s takeover of neighboring East Darfur with troops moving in to West Kordofan. The fighting and armed conflict started in Muglad town and moved to Babanusa military base considered as SAF warehouse area and railway station. The fighting between SAF and RSF continued in Babanusa town at the time of reporting. At first, native administration started negotiations between SAF and RSF as RSF requested SAF to surrender division 22 without fighting however SAF refused the request and started with Airstrikes to disperse RSF trucks. The SAF airstrikes were also reported in Abu Zabad town killing one injuring 11 civilians.

• In South Kordofan state, a tribal conflict erupted on 28 November north of Dilling town in Dilling locality between Nuba and Arab Hawazma. At the same time, there were reports of a group of RSF personnel on motorbikes north of Dilling town and Tayba junction controlling the road between Dilling and El Obeid. Unconfirmed reports indicated RSF was mobilizing to attack Dilling town from Debeibat, Al Goz locality while SPLMN was on standby in their positions around Dilling town. The clash between Nuba and Hawazma attracts support of SPLMN and RSF troops due to their tribal composition. To protect Dilling town from destruction, the native administration of Hawazma and Nuba reached an agreement with SAF, SPLMN and SAF to withdraw from the town and have it protected by the community.

• The situation is normal in the eastern corridor of south Kordofan. The local authority in Abu Jubeyha is seeking for alternative road from Umrwaba to Abu Jubeyha for the commercial trucks to come from Kosti directly through At Tadamon to Abu Jubeyha. The authority issued a letter to INGOs asking for support with water containers and tents for the establishment of check points by SAF and other forces to secure the new road.

• In North Kordofan, RSF personnel increased the number of their checkpoints along El Obeid-Um Rawaba Road and started collecting road tolls/taxes. On 25 November, a group of RSF personnel attacked some locals in Agari village nearly 10km northwest of Al Rahad town. As a result, five locals were killed, 60 houses burned and unspecified number of villagers fled the scene to neighboring villages. The incident happened as a retaliation for killing an RSF personnel by locals in the previous period.