Sudanese Forces Break RSF Siege in Kordofan’s Kadugli

Sudanese military forces announced on March 19, 2024, that they successfully lifted a siege imposed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on the regional capital of Kadugli in South Kordofan. This siege had been in place since early in the ongoing conflict that began in April 2023, marking a significant development in the protracted struggle between the military and the paramilitary RSF.

The military described the breakthrough as a result of a “heroic battle” aimed at reopening a critical road linking Kadugli to the nearby town of Dilling. Reports indicate that the military forces engaged in fierce combat, resulting in substantial losses for the RSF. “The remnants of the militia and its mercenaries were defeated under the crushing blows, suffering heavy losses in lives and equipment,” the military stated in an official announcement. There has been no immediate response from the RSF regarding these claims.

Residents of Kadugli celebrated as Sudanese troops entered the town, with military leader General Abdel-Fattah Burhan expressing his congratulations in a televised address. “Congratulations to the people of Kadugli on the liberation of the city,” he said, adding, “The armed forces will reach any place in Sudan.”

The conflict in Sudan escalated significantly in April 2023, following a power struggle between the military and the RSF, leading to widespread violence in the capital, Khartoum, and beyond. According to United Nations estimates, more than 40,000 people have lost their lives due to the ongoing war, while humanitarian organizations suggest the actual number may be much higher. The situation has resulted in what the U.N. describes as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, displacing over 14 million people from their homes, exacerbating disease outbreaks, and pushing parts of the country towards famine, including Kadugli.

In recent months, the military has made significant advances in South Kordofan. Just last week, they lifted a siege on Dilling, the province’s second-largest town. The director of the Sudan With Mercy Corps aid group, Miji Park, emphasized the dire conditions facing communities in and around Kadugli, which have been largely cut off from essential services. “These communities have survived years of hardship and cannot afford to be forgotten,” Park urged, calling on the international community to increase humanitarian assistance and act promptly.

Tragically, the conflict continues to claim innocent lives. On the same day that the military announced the lifting of the siege, a drone attack attributed to the RSF struck the al-Shartai Health Center in the Hajar Al-Nour neighborhood of Kadugli, resulting in the deaths of five children and three women, according to the Sudan Doctors Network, which monitors the ongoing war. The attack injured at least 11 others, underscoring the ongoing violence and instability in the region.

As the military seeks to consolidate its control and push further into RSF-held territories, the humanitarian situation remains precarious. With essential services disrupted and aid access severely limited, the plight of those affected by the conflict continues to deepen, raising urgent calls for international attention and support.