News Center — The escalating violence in South Kordofan opens the door to a new wave of instability, as clashes between government forces and local armed groups expand, raising fears of direct impacts on civilians in rural areas trapped by the conflict.

The Sudan Doctors Network announced today, Wednesday, August 26, the killing of 27 people, including four children, and the injury of others in attacks carried out by the Sudan People's Liberation Movement on the Al-Qardoud and Abu Hamama areas in South Kordofan State, on the background of conflict with the Atoro tribe that inhabits the area.

The Network indicated that the attacks resulted in a large wave of displacement of civilians toward the Abu Hitan area and the city of Kadugli, the state capital, affirming that targeting defenseless civilians constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.

The Network warned that the continuation of these violations would expand the conflict in South Kordofan, calling on the international community and human rights and humanitarian organizations to exert urgent pressure on the leadership of the People's Liberation Movement to halt retaliatory attacks and the targeting of civilians, ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to the displaced and affected, and hold accountable all those proven to be involved in targeting civilians and violating their rights.

Since October 25 of last year, South Kordofan, along with North and West Kordofan, has witnessed clashes between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces and their ally the People's Liberation Movement, resulting in the displacement of tens of thousands in recent times.

Since April 2023, the Rapid Support Forces have been engaged in confrontations with the Sudanese army, leading to a famine considered among the worst globally, in addition to the killing of tens of thousands of Sudanese and the displacement of nearly 13 million people.