Fierce clashes between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continue across North and West Kordofan, even as the military successfully crushed a brief mutiny by an allied militia in the northern city of Dongola. Consequently, intense battles rage in El-Obeid and Babanusa, critical cities in the Kordofan region. The fighting expanded when the Awlad Qamri militia clashed with the army in Dongola on Friday, panicking local residents.
That specific confrontation resulted in two dead militia members and seriously wounded their commander, whom the army immediately transported to a hospital. A military source reported the Awlad Qamri group refused army orders, forcing regular forces to intervene, though this militia recently joined the Sudan Shield Forces, which aligns with the Sudanese military.
Escalating Conflict and Atrocities
Despite ongoing international peace efforts, the conflict significantly escalated in Kordofan following the RSF’s capture of El-Fasher in Darfur last month. Local and international organizations consequently report that RSF forces committed extensive atrocities and massacres against civilians after seizing the Darfur city. Military sources confirmed on Sunday that the RSF struck Babanusa targets using drones and heavy artillery, demonstrating their combat capability.
Meanwhile, the Sudanese army and its allied forces are actively advancing along the strategic Umm Samima and Al-Khuwi axes, pushing back RSF positions.
Diplomatic Pressure and Aid Crisis
Diplomatically, these escalated hostilities follow US President Donald Trump’s recent pledge to help end Sudan’s conflict after Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince requested his involvement. Trump condemned the widespread atrocities and vowed to cooperate with regional powers to stabilize the deteriorating situation.
Both the Sovereign Council, led by army chief Al-Burhan, and the RSF promptly welcomed Trump’s diplomatic intervention. Furthermore, the humanitarian crisis deepens daily, creating immense challenges for aid groups. White Nile State alone has now received over two million displaced individuals, according to Maawiya Mohamed, emphasizing the desperate need for additional resources.
