For more than a decade, Kadugli, the capital of South Kordofan State, has worn the mantle of war. Its residents have never known sustained security; heavy weapons strike intermittently, and repeated attempts to seize the city by force have become routine. These attacks were carried out by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement–North (al-Hilu) (SPLM-N (al-Hilu), which broke its temporary partnership with the National Congress Party regime in a conflict known locally as the “Sita Sita war” or the “June 6” war, which erupted on June 6, 2011.
Since then, security and military authorities have tightened their grip on the city. Civil space has contracted sharply as Kadugli has become increasingly militarized, and residents have borne severe hardships: constant surveillance, rising prices, dwindling opportunities for independent work, and a collapsing health system. What followed the outbreak of the mid-April fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) proved especially perilous for civilians, who found themselves facing a campaign even more violent than previous rounds of fighting.
From behind the mountains that define Kadugli’s landscape, the April fighting kept closing in, steadily narrowing the margin for life in the city. By the end of December, combat lines had drawn to within a few kilometers of the outskirts.
In early December, the RSF seized the Kiqa al-Kheil garrison, about 60 kilometers (roughly 37 miles) from Kadugli, while the SPLM–N (al-Hilu) took control of the al-Balf area between Dalang and Kadugli. On Dec. 19, the RSF announced it had taken Barno, approximately 30 kilometers (about 19 miles) west of Kadugli. The SPLM-N (al-Hilu) said on Jan. 3 that it had secured the Al-Bardab area, roughly 6 kilometers (about 4 miles) north of the city.
Famine and Road Closures
Dozens of children died, according to emergency room data from the region and the Sudan Doctors Network.
Emergency room data and the Sudan Doctors Network
Suffering in Kadugli intensified after the RSF seized the town of Ad-Dibiabat in the Al-Goz locality of South Kordofan and expanded their presence across the area. Since May of last year, thousands of displaced people have poured into Kadugli, which has become overcrowded with those fleeing nearby villages and small towns. Several displacement centers were set up; four remain operational: the Al-Dawagin Farm center, the Inland Port center, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) center, and the Marta shelter.
Last year, hunger spread across South Kordofan on an unprecedented scale, forcing residents to cook tree leaves and animal fodder. Dozens of children died, according to emergency room data from the region and the Sudan Doctors Network. Road closures cut off supplies, depleting food stocks and basic goods both inside the city and in surrounding rural areas, prompting U.N. agencies to declare famine among the population.
In August 2024, the SPLM-N (al-Hilu) said famine had struck areas under its control, identifying several localities in Heiban, Rashad, and Lagawa—places that became destinations for people fleeing Kadugli as fighting intensified. In November, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) committee declared famine in Kadugli and warned that hunger could spread to as many as 20 districts across the region. As living conditions deteriorated, fighting escalated and shelling between the RSF and SPLM-N increased, forcing thousands more to flee.
On Dec. 13, the compound of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) in Kadugli was hit by a drone strike that killed six people and wounded eight U.N. peacekeepers. The attack prompted the U.N. to withdraw its remaining troops and evacuate the compound. On Dec. 21, several international organizations that had been delivering humanitarian aid in the city also evacuated their staff amid a tightening siege and rising violence.
Displaced Into Hunger
Food supplies are virtually gone in a city already struggling with widespread hunger.
Kadugli resident, speaking to Atar (anonymous)
A resident inside Kadugli told Atar that the city is gripped by fear and panic as fighting edges ever closer. He estimated that the city has lost more than half its population, with most people fleeing to areas under the SPLM-N (al-Hilu) and others seeking refuge in Abu Jubayha, Al-Obeid, and the White Nile region.
The resident, who asked to remain anonymous for security reasons, described both living and security conditions as dire. “Food supplies are virtually gone in a city already struggling with widespread hunger,” he said. “After the RSF seized areas near the city, the supply lines that once brought goods into Kadugli collapsed.”
He added that, despite attempts by security services to prevent people from leaving, thousands have escaped toward the SPLM-N (al-Hilu) -held areas that themselves suffer severe food shortages. Residents say they are compelled to flee to save their lives, even if it means going to places where hunger is rampant.
In December, displacement from Kadugli to safer areas surged more than at any previous time. People trying to flee found transportation hard to secure, pushing fares sharply higher. A single seat on a lorry ranged from 120,000 to 150,000 Sudanese pounds in cash and from 170,000 to 200,000 pounds via the Bankak app. Tuk-tuk fares varied between 200,000 and 270,000 pounds in cash and roughly 300,000 pounds through Bankak. Notably, these fares are not tied to fixed departure points; they depend entirely on the route and the perceived security of the journey.
A displaced person from Kadugli told Atar that people inside the city are terrified and believe group transportation is safer than traveling on foot or by animal. Families therefore turn to collective departures to get past danger zones, even if they do not reach a final destination. “In truth, most of those fleeing the city have no set destination. They simply want to get out, and only afterward start thinking about where to go,” he said.
High Prices and an Isolated Market
Inside Kadugli, prices have surged since roads and markets were sealed off. Sources in the city told Atar that many merchants now prefer cash over the widely used Bankak mobile app. They said cash shortages, frequent telecom outages, and the limited number of Starlink terminals—mostly in the hands of security services—have pushed informal cash transactions to roughly 50% of trade.
A kilogram of flour now sells for 15,000 Sudanese pounds and a kilogram of lentils for 10,000 pounds; sugar is largely absent, and cooking oil is scarce. Neighborhoods are emptying: only a handful of residents remain, and most cannot afford the costly journeys out of the city—a particular burden for large families.
Safe exit routes must be found.
Those trying to flee eastward face steep obstacles. Many aim for the White Nile or Al-Gadarif but find the distances and expense prohibitive. Even travel to nearby towns such as Abu Jubayha and other parts of South Kordofan is difficult and costly. By contrast, displacement toward areas held by the SPLM-N (al-Hilu) tends to be cheaper, as movement between villages outside Kadugli is easier than travel into SAF-controlled zones. People fleeing toward SPLM-N (al-Hilu) areas use donkeys, tuk-tuks, and makeshift trailers pulled by tractors.
Humanitarian expert Salah al-Amin described Kadugli’s situation as critical. He told Atar that security conditions have reached the highest emergency threshold defined by international aid organizations, prompting the evacuation of humanitarian staff from the city. Al-Amin warned that the departure of aid groups has left residents exposed, with vital assistance such as medical care no longer available. “Worse,” he said, “their withdrawal confirms that the situation is no longer tenable for civilians. Safe exit routes must be found.”
According to the latest information obtained by Atar, the safe area inside Kadugli had shrunk further by January. The national road linking Kadugli to Dalang was completely cut, and houses and neighborhoods were being abandoned by people who begged only for survival and safety. The fighting circle around the city—hemmed in by mountains and trapped in years of conflict—continues to tighten.
