By Nana Karikari, Senior Global Affairs Correspondent
The protracted conflict in Sudan reached a new level of brutality this weekend as paramilitary forces launched a lethal offensive on the strategic city of Dilling. At least 14 people died during the assault in the capital of South Kordofan province. The dead include five children and two women. This latest surge in violence highlights the fragile nature of recent military gains in the region.
Coordination of the Assault
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) conducted the operation alongside their allies in the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement–North. This joint force initiated a major offensive on Saturday. Witnesses reported that the attackers “shelled residential areas in the city amid dire humanitarian conditions.” The Sudan Doctors Network confirmed that the hourslong attack wounded at least 23 others. Seven additional children were among those injured in the shelling. The participation of the SPLM-N marks a significant escalation in the coordination between the RSF and regional rebel movements against the central government.
Military Resistance and Urban Damage The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) claimed to have successfully fended off the attack. In a formal statement, the military described “fierce” battles that resulted in the destruction of 36 combat vehicles and the seizure of four others. Despite these claims of a successful defense, the civilian toll remains high. Local residents stated that “the shelling was concentrated in residential neighborhoods, destroying more than eight houses.” The city, South Kordofan’s second-largest hub, has now been “subjected to
intense shelling for the second consecutive day amid severe shortages of medical staff and supplies.”
Historical Context of the Siege
Dilling recently emerged from a period of extreme isolation. The SAF announced on Jan. 26 that it had entered the city after a siege of over two years. During that time, the RSF cut off all essential supplies and frequently bombed the population. These conditions led to faminelike circumstances for the inhabitants. The current offensive threatens to undo the stability gained when the military recently broke the RSF siege on the city.
Warnings of Mass Atrocity
Medical observers fear the violence in Kordofan mirrors the darkest chapters of the current civil war. The Sudan Doctors Network warned of a possible “catastrophic scenario” developing like the one in the Darfur city of el-Fasher. In that region, U.N.-commissioned experts noted that previous attacks bore “hallmarks of genocide.” Reports indicate that more than 6,000 people were killed over three days in el-Fasher when the RSF unleashed “a wave of intense violence … shocking in its scale and brutality.”
A Growing Humanitarian Crisis
Sudan first slid into chaos in April 2023 when a power struggle between the military and the RSF exploded into open fighting in Khartoum. Since then, the war has killed more than 40,000 people according to U.N. figures. However, aid groups suggest the true number could be many times higher. The Kordofan region has recently seen intensified military operations. These include increased drone strikes and shelling which cause constant civilian casualties. More than 500 civilians died in drone strikes this year as of mid-March.
International Legal Implications
The conduct of the warring parties remains under intense global scrutiny. The conflict has been marked by atrocities including mass killings and gang rape. The International Criminal Court is currently investigating these actions as potential war crimes and crimes against humanity. While the SAF continues to report tactical victories, the RSF has not commented on the developments yet. The humanitarian situation continues to worsen as millions remain displaced both inside Sudan and abroad.
As the conflict enters its third year, the escalation in South Kordofan underscores a persistent stalemate where neither side has secured a decisive path to peace, leaving civilian populations caught in the crossfire of a deepening regional catastrophe.
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