On 16 January 2015, SPLM-N recaptured the towns of Ankarto and Um Turq-Turq. On the same day Sudan’s humanitarian commission released a statement claiming that a total of 145,000 people have been internally displaced due to the conflict.[235]

By early January, reports of malnutrition and hunger increased in the conflict-afflicted zones. According to the United Nations, close to 417,000 people had been displaced, including 80,000 who fled to South Sudan.[72]

Citing a total of 500,000 displaced persons in 2015: 500 refugees fleeing South Kordofan per week: UNHCR. Sudan Tribune. 5 February 2015. Archived from the original on 8 February 2015, http://sudantribune.com/spip.php?article53901.

Excerpt from Sudan: Country Report: The situation in South Kordofan and Blue Nile – An Update (3rd edition with addendum), March 2021 (COI included between 1st May 2019 and 16th December 2020) (Oxford: Asylum Research Centre (ARC), 2021), pp. 61–63, https://www.ecoi.net/en/file/local/2045013/Final_01.03.2021.pdf.

South Kordofan

IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix covering the period July to September 2019 reported that “Registration of IDPs in Kadugli town (Kadugli locality) was ongoing during the three-month period – 216 individuals (71 households) were registered in July, 141 individuals (55 households) in August, and 181 individuals (80 households) in September. These IDPs were displaced from Alburam, Heiban and Um Dorain (surrounding localities in South Kordofan) due to violence between SPLM-N and government forces, and the lack of subsequent services available”.218

The same source covering the period October to December 2019 reported that it had “registered 660 IDPs (279 households) in Dalami town (Habeila locality) during October 2019, having been displaced from surrounding villages in Dalami, Alburam, Heiban and Um Dorain localities due to tensions between SPLM-N and government forces, and the subsequent lack of services available”.219

On 13th May 2020 “Armed RSF soldiers attacked Albardab village and killed nine (9) unarmed people, looted and burned down houses basing on ethnicity”.220 HUDO Centre’s report covering events between January and December 2020 further highlighted that when the RSF soldiers arrived at the village “they started to ask about the ethnicity of the residents they came across and it turned out that they were targeting the Nuba. Whoever said that they were from Nuba ethnicity had to be assaulted / beaten or killed and their houses had to be looted and burnt down”.221 According to the HUDO Centre, as a result more than “two thousand people were displaced” and settled in “two schools near the military base of Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) in Kadogli town while others went to al-Kewaik and Dameek village in search of protection. The government officials requested the IDPs to return home without offering any protection or rehabilitation. Yet the attackers are still threatening to attack again”.222

On 12-13 May 2020 “violent clashes” between “different armed groups affiliated with two tribes” occurred as a result of which 5,000 people were displaced reported UNOCHA.223 According to the same source, “As of 31 May, the Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) in South Kordofan registered 20,400 people who have been displaced. The clashes led to loss of lives from both sides, physical injuries, burning of houses, looting of household goods and destruction of public infrastructure”.224 The report further reported that “Most of the displaced people – about 18,000 – fled from sites of Tillo IDPs camp, Albardab, Alban-Jadid and Burnuo” and that “This is their second displacement as they were initially displaced from their original areas of Al Buram and Heiban administrative units during the conflict between the former government security forces and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement –North (SPLM-N) that started in June 2011”.

In another event that occurred in May 2020 HUDO Centre reported “Armed RSF soldiers attacked Albardab village and killed nine (9) unarmed people, looted and burned down houses basing on ethnicity. As a result, more than two thousand people were displaced from their village. The displaced people have not received any humanitarian aid and are in a miserable state”.226

The South Kordofan Blue Nile Coordination Unit reported in its May 2020 report: “A total number of 192 households and 1056 individuals (70 in Um Durain County, 84 in Thobo and 38 in Western Kadugli) were displaced in Kadugli, as a result of clashes between the communities and armed Missiriya. They are in need of food, temporary shelters, water containers and cooking utensils”.227

In June 2020 the South Kordofan Blue Nile Coordination Unit reported “Over 1500 households [7,500 PAX] have reportedly fled their homes in Western Kadugli and taken refuge in Um Durain and Thobo county following a recent escalation in violence between communities and the Missiriya”.228

The Insecurity Insight newsletter for July 2020, basing its information on an IOM Sudan’s Twitter message, noted that “20 July 2020: In Kadugli, South Kordofan state, clashes between Arabs and Nuba tribesmen killed and wounded an unconfirmed number of people and displaced about 6,350 people from Kulba, Marta North, Marta East and Hila Al Gadeeda”.229

The HUDO Centre reported that on 22nd July 2020 “more than two thousand people were displaced from their homes in Kadogli and settled in school premises. This was because of the threats and shootings by Rapid Support Force (RSF) in their neighbourhoods […] The displacement came as a result of deployment and shootings by RSF soldiers in response to the demonstration/ protest by residents”.230

Referring most likely to what the International Crisis Group called “intercommunal clashes” on 21-22 July 2020, which left “dozens dead”231 , the South Kordofan Blue Nile Coordination Unit stated that “continued clashes in Kadugli have led to a large influx of IDPs – over 45 households [225 PAX], into Um Durain and Thobo, which increased the demand for foo” 232 . The same source further reported that “Around 283,000 including women and children were registered in Kadugli following clashes in Rashad. The distribution of NFIs [non-food items] is ongoing, but it is not enough to meet the demand”.233

In August 2020 the South Kordofan Blue Nile Coordination Unit reported that “There was a high displacement into the areas particularly in Thobo and Western Kadugli. This was primarily as a result of tensions and insecurity in Kadugli”.234

Blue Nile

Very limited information was found on the impact of the violence on forced displacement in Blue Nile State. Reporting on the situation in the Sudan between 27 September 2019 and 16 July 2020, the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Sudan reported that “Civilians continue to face the burden of conflicts in the Blue Nile. Many people were displaced and lost their land, which was their main source of income”. 235

Notes:

218 IOM, Displacement Tracking Matric (DTM) Sudan, July – September 2019, 1 December 2019, South Kordofan, p. 2.

219 IOM, Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) Sudan, October – December 2019, 25 February 2020, South Kordofan, p. 2

220 HUDO Centre, Urgent Appeal, Miserable conditions of the recently displaced people in Kadogli, Sudan, 21 May 2020

221 HUDO Centre, Report on the human rights situation in South Kordufan and Blue Nile States of Sudan, January – June 2020, 27 July 2020, 2.4.4 Miserable conditions of the recently displaced people in Kadogli, p. 26

222 HUDO Centre, Report on the human rights situation in South Kordufan and Blue Nile States of Sudan, January – June 2020, 27 July 2020, 2.4.4 Miserable conditions of the recently displaced people in Kadogli, p. 27

223 UNOCHA, Sudan, Situation Report, 4 June 2020, Emergency Response, p. 14

224 UNOCHA, Sudan, Situation Report, 4 June 2020, Emergency Response, p. 14/15

225 UNOCHA, Sudan, Situation Report, 4 June 2020, Emergency Response, p. 15

226 HUDO Centre, Urgent Appeal, Miserable conditions of the recently displaced people in Kadogli, Sudan, 21 May 2020

227 South Kordofan Blue Nile (SKBN) Coordination Unit, Humanitarian Update, May 2020, 15 June 2020, Protection, Access and Security, South Kordofan, p. 4

228 South Kordofan Blue Nile (SKBN) Coordination Unit, Humanitarian Update, June 2020, 21 July 2020, Protection, access and security, p. 5

229 Insecurity Insight, Protection in Danger, Monthly News Brief, July 2020, p. 2

230 HUDO Centre, Further wave of displacement within Kadogli, Sudan, 25 July 2020

231 International Crisis Group, Crisis Watch: Sudan, July 2020

232 South Kordofan Blue Nile (SKBN) Coordination Unit, Humanitarian Update, July 2020, 15 August 2020, Food security and agriculture, p. 2

233 South Kordofan Blue Nile (SKBN) Coordination Unit, Humanitarian Update, July 2020, 15 August 2020, Protection, access and security, p. 4

234 South Kordofan Blue Nile (SKBN) Coordination Unit, Humanitarian Update, August 2020, 22 September 2020, Protection, access and security, p. 6

235 UN Human Rights Council, Situation of human rights in the Sudan Report of the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Sudan, 30 July 2020, H. Human rights situation in conflict-affected areas, 2. South Kordofan and Blue Nile, para. 63, https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G20/194/56/PDF/G2019456.pdf?OpenElement.

30.04.2014 Nuba Reports

Sudan government forces are pushing south into the heart of rebel territory in South Kordofan, driving out tens of thousands of civilians as the fighting season reaches its peak. Around 70,000 civilians have been displaced in the past month alone.

Government forces are making one final push to capture territory before seasonal rains make troop and vehicle movement impossible.

After nearly a month of blanket shelling and pillaging in nearby Rashad and Abbasiya, a Rapid Support Force unit captured Abri, just south of Delami on April. The RSF unit is comprised of Arab Militias from North and South Kordofan under the command of the National Intelligence and Security Service.

SPLA-N Stronghold

Abri is a northern stronghold of the SPLA-North – part of the Sudan Revolutionary Front coalition. The town was taken by rebel troops and was under SPLA-N control from the beginning of the war 2011. The town sits around 80 kilometers north along the main road from Kauda, the capital of rebel held territory in the state. While SPLA-N leadership remains confident they can defend the area, losing Abri is certainly a major blow after a season of rebel advances.

The RSF unit attacked Abri from Delami to the north, where they had come after conducting punitive operations on civilians in Rashad and Abbasiya counties. According to one eyewitness, a contingent of the RSF with more than 70 Land Cruisers and trucks rode into Sebsan village in Rashad on April 26 and looted shops in the market. The eyewitness said the forces demanded money from shop-owners and tea sellers while chanting military slogans as well as “God is great.”

On April 27 the unit moved to Umm Barmbeita and began shelling Tonguli, Deri and Sabat. The shells in Tonguli killed 3 women. The two day battle began around 5pm on April 28. After a two day battle which involved tanks, foot soldiers, fighter jets, bomber-planes and artillery, the Sudanese Military announced they had taken control of the area.

Major Displacement

Eyewitnesses and sources across the state say the RSF troops have been massing around the state since late March. Forces have been seen in Abu Jubeiha, East of Kadugli, Near Talodi, Al Roseires, Alehemer, Um Barmbeita and several other locations.

Some troops moved up to Rashad and Abbasiya counties in mid-April and began shelling the area. According to the Rashad County Commissioner, more than 52,000 fled their homes once the shelling began. The bombing was so intense the commissioner himself was forced to flee Rashad County.

Just days ago, the attacks on Delami County – which contains Abri – began. In addition to Abri, 3 other villages fled the fighting, with many civilians sheltering in caves nearby. Humanitarian sources in the region say at least 4 children were killed in the shelling in Delami County.

The massive government offensive comes near the end of the fighting season, as both the SPLM-North and Government sit down for peace negotiations in Addis Ababa. It is not unusual for large-scale fighting to break out before and during negotiations. According to Abdul Moniem Suleiman, editor in chief of the Hurriyat online newspaper, the offensive is “an attempt by the government to force the SPLM-N to sign a fragile agreement like Doha agreement, which so far neither has stopped the war nor brought peace in Darfur.”

The SPLM-North’s negotiation team spokesman, Mubarak Ardol said the recent fighting has made the negotiations “unstable” but said they would continue.

The attacks in Rashad, Abbasiya and Delami Counties are only the beginning of large-scale offensive launched by the government to break SPLA-N control over the heart of the state. This offensive follows a first failed attempt to penetrate SPLA-North lines in January. Government troops are now massed in Kadugli, Heglig, Talodi Abu Jubeiha and Delami County, effectively surrounding the areas of rebel control. It appears only a matter of time before Khartoum launches an assault to engulf the whole of South Kordofan in war.

Original article with map

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