Over 36,000 civilians have fled their homes in Sudan’s Kordofan region as fierce fighting spreads eastward from Darfur, the United Nations has confirmed. The displacement marks a sharp escalation in the ongoing war between Sudan’s army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), deepening what is already one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
According to the UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM), an estimated 36,825 people were forced to leave five localities in North Kordofan between October 26 and 31. The exodus follows the RSF’s capture of El-Fasher, the last major city held by the army in Darfur, and the group’s push toward new territories east of the region.
The Kordofan area, long considered a strategic buffer between the Darfur provinces and Sudan’s central heartland around Khartoum, has now become the latest front in a war that has raged since April 2023.
What Is Driving the Violence in Kordofan?
Residents reported a sharp increase in both RSF and army movements across towns and villages, raising fears that North Kordofan could become the next major battleground. The fighting has centered around El-Obeid, the state capital, which holds critical logistical importance. The city links Darfur to Khartoum and also hosts a major airport used for military operations.
“Today, all our forces have converged on the Bara front here,” an RSF member declared in a video posted late Sunday, referring to a city north of El-Obeid. The paramilitary group claimed it had already taken control of Bara last week.
Local accounts suggest both sides are preparing for a large confrontation. Suleiman Babiker, a resident of Um Smeima west of El-Obeid, said that RSF vehicles had multiplied in the area after their forces captured El-Fasher. “We stopped going to our farms, afraid of clashes,” he told AFP.
Another resident, who requested anonymity for safety reasons, confirmed that army convoys and new weapons had been seen entering El-Obeid from the west and south. The military buildup has created panic among civilians, with many choosing to flee before full-scale fighting erupts.
The UN has raised growing concern about the situation. Martha Pobee, the Assistant Secretary-General for Africa, recently warned of “large-scale atrocities” and “ethnically motivated reprisals” by RSF forces in Bara, saying that the violence resembled the patterns of destruction previously seen in Darfur.
How Severe Is Sudan’s Humanitarian Crisis Now?
The fighting in Sudan has already killed tens of thousands and displaced nearly 12 million people. The UN describes it as the world’s largest displacement and hunger crisis, with millions facing famine conditions.
The spread of conflict into Kordofan has worsened conditions for civilians who were already suffering from shortages of food, medicine, and shelter. Many of those fleeing the violence have sought refuge in remote rural areas or makeshift camps, where aid agencies struggle to deliver assistance because of insecurity and blocked transport routes.
Since the RSF’s offensive into El-Fasher, reports of human rights abuses have surged, including mass killings, sexual violence, and the targeting of non-Arab communities. Pobee emphasized that the international community must respond urgently to prevent further atrocities. “The patterns we are seeing in Kordofan are deeply alarming and could mirror the horrors of Darfur if left unchecked,” she said.
Meanwhile, both the Sudanese army and the RSF continue to claim control over key towns, making independent verification difficult. El-Obeid remains a focal point, with each side positioning for dominance over one of Sudan’s most important military and trade corridors.
Civilians caught in the crossfire face growing uncertainty. Many families have abandoned their homes without supplies, walking for hours or days in search of safety. Humanitarian agencies report that temporary shelters are overwhelmed, while disease outbreaks are beginning to spread in overcrowded camps.
The conflict, which began as a power struggle between Sudan’s military leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (known as Hemedti), has since evolved into a devastating war that threatens to fracture the entire nation.
By Yockshard Enyendiy
