Violence has escalated in recent months in SPLM‑N–controlled areas of South Kordofan, particularly in Kauda and Haiban, where attacks have targeted members of the Aturo tribe and other tribal groups in the area were impacted by this vioelnce. Dozens of civilians have been killed, and thousands have fled into nearby villages without access to food, shelter, or medical assistance. “In the last week, over 20 civilians were killed, among them a priest,” a local monitor reported. Activists have documented large-scale displacement from Kauda and Haiban into other parts of South Kordofan, with hundreds of families arriving in North Kordofan.
Reports from local responders indicate that sexual violence against women and girls has increased, as roads remain unsafe and women face heightened risks while attempting to flee. SPLM‑N units have reportedly attacked at least 15 Aturo villages, forcing entire communities to escape.
SPLM‑N–controlled areas host thousands of internally displaced people (IDPs) from other parts of South Kordofan, including Kadugli and Dillinj. Over the past several years, civilians fleeing famine and conflict sought refuge in these territories, and many used them as a corridor to reach safer areas in eastern and northern Sudan—often crossing into South Sudan before re-entering Sudan through White Nile State. This escape route is now closed. Thousands of civilians remain trapped in Dillinj under continuous shelling and drone strikes, while residents of Kadugli face severe food and medical supplies shortages and live under siege.
The intensifying violence within SPLM‑N areas has triggered mass displacement, worsening already catastrophic humanitarian conditions as the rainy season begins. Movement of people and supplies is increasingly difficult, and access to affected communities is rapidly deteriorating.
Accurate estimates of displacement remain challenging, but local responders report receiving IDPs from Kauda and Haiban in multiple locations last couple of weeks:
- Approximately 2,700 people arrived in Dallmai from Haiban.
- Approximately 2,800 people arrived in Al-Obeid in North Kordofan from Kauda.
- Approximately 2,500 people arrived in Umhitan.
- Approximately 2,000 people arrived in Alhadra.
- Around 1,000 families fled from Habila to Kurtala and Kororo in recent weeks, leaving the center of Habila locality nearly empty.
Local activists also report dozens of detainees from the Aturo tribe held in SPLM‑N facilities, with some reportedly killed. Nuba peace activist and women’s rights defender Nagwa Konda has been detained by SPLM‑N forces since early April 2026, and her whereabouts remain unknown. Nagwa is a prominent advocate who has spent decades defending the rights of women and communities in the Nuba Mountains. She has now been held for more than three months without charges or access to her family or colleagues.
The unrest in SPLM‑N‑controlled areas is deeply alarming and risks triggering broader displacement across the region. These territories host thousands of people already displaced from other parts of South Kordofan and serve as a critical route for civilians fleeing conflict zones such as Dillinj toward South Sudan, White Nile State, and Khartoum.
The new conflict in SPLM/N areas add to the already deteriorated humanitarian situation in South Kordofan. As the fighting continues around Dillinj, while intensifying military operations in North and West Kordofan increased the risks for IDPs fleeing the region. International community must act now to protect civilians in South Kordofan and enhance access to aid and life saving services. Donors must move to support local responders to provide aid to civilians in these remote and hard-to-reach areas.
Recommendations for the International Community
1. Immediate Humanitarian Access
- Urgently negotiate humanitarian corridors into SPLM‑N‑controlled areas, Kadugli, and Dillinj.
- Prioritize delivery of food, medical supplies, shelter materials, and protection services, especially for women and girls.
2. Protection of Civilians
- Deploy independent protection monitors to document attacks on civilians, sexual violence, and forced displacement.
- Pressure all armed actors to cease hostilities targeting civilians and to respect international humanitarian law.
3. Support for Displacement Response
- Scale up emergency assistance in North Kordofan, White Nile State, and other receiving areas.
- Provide funding for temporary shelters, mobile clinics, and psychosocial support for survivors of violence.
4. Accountability and Monitoring
- Call for independent investigations into reported killings, village attacks, and arbitrary detentions—including the case of Nagwa Konda.
- Support mechanisms to track human rights violations and ensure accountability.
5. Diplomatic Engagement
- Engage regional actors, including South Sudan and the African Union, to reopen safe passage routes for civilians.
- Encourage renewed dialogue between SPLM‑N leadership and humanitarian agencies to prevent further escalation.
6. Support Local Civil Society
- Provide resources and protection for local activists, women’s rights defenders, and community responders who are documenting abuses and assisting displaced families.
