A surge in artillery attacks by the SPLM-N in South Kordofan has resulted in civilian deaths, intensifying an already critical humanitarian emergency.
A recent escalation in hostilities in Sudan’s South Kordofan province has resulted in the deaths of at least five individuals, including a child. The Sudan Doctors Network reported that the fatalities occurred following a targeted artillery strike on residential districts within the town of Dilling. The organization identified the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), led
Medical personnel on the ground described the attack as a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law. The shelling of populated areas has not only caused immediate loss of life but has also left several residents with significant injuries. Local healthcare facilities are struggling to manage the influx of casualties amidst an already strained medical infrastructure, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region.
In response to the violence, the Sudan Doctors Network has issued an urgent appeal to the international community. They are demanding immediate intervention to halt these attacks and are calling for substantial pressure to be placed on the SPLM-N leadership. The goal is to force an end to the targeting of residential zones, which continue to suffer the consequences of the ongoing power struggle in the country.
Beyond the incident in Dilling, the situation in the Nuba Mountains has deteriorated significantly. Prior to the Dilling attack, reports surfaced regarding a separate assault on the areas of Debi and Luweri, situated near Kauda. This earlier incident resulted in the deaths of more than 21 people, with victims including a significant number of women and children.
The Sudan Doctors Network noted that these specific attacks appeared to target the Otoro tribe, a minority group inhabiting the Nuba Mountains. This development marks a troubling shift toward targeted ethnic violence. Reports indicate that SPLM-N forces had previously launched systematic raids on at least 10 Otoro villages during late August, resulting in the mass displacement of thousands of civilians who were forced to flee their homes to escape the onslaught.
These actions occur within the context of a broader, volatile landscape where the SPLM-N has aligned its operations with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). y entrenched in the national conflict, moving beyond its regional origins to participate in a wider war that continues to destabilize the Sudanese state.
The recent violence in South Kordofan is occurring against the backdrop of a catastrophic nationwide conflict that began in April 2023. The war, pitting the Sudanese Armed Forces against the RSF, has created one of the world's most severe displacement crises. Current estimates suggest that approximately 13 million people have been displaced, while tens of thousands have lost their lives in the fighting.
A recent report from a United Nations-backed independent fact-finding mission has underscored the complexity of the conflict. The mission highlighted that external factors are fueling the fire, specifically citing the influx of foreign personnel, military drone technology, and external supply networks. These international contributions to the conflict have empowered warring parties to sustain their campaigns, further complicating efforts to reach a lasting ceasefire.
The humanitarian outlook remains grim for the majority of the population. The World Health Organization estimates that roughly 34 million people—nearly two-thirds of Sudan’s total population—are currently in desperate need of humanitarian aid. As famine conditions threaten to spread, the continued focus on military operations over civilian protection threatens to push an already fragile nation toward total collapse.