TUE 27 JAN - The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have entered the South Kordofan city of Dilling, breaking a long-running siege that has brought a suspected famine to the civilian population.
Reports on Monday suggested SAF soldiers had reopened the eastern road into the city - the second largest in the state - while footage circulating online appeared to show SAF soldiers arriving in columns of pickup trucks.
It followed reports earlier the same day that SAF, along with the allied Joint Forces, had captured the village of Habila, which sits around 40km to the east on the road leading to Dilling.
In a statement, SAF said it had “forcefully and decisively reopened the Dilling road after a successful military operation” and claimed to have “inflicted heavy losses on the enemy in terms of lives and equipment”.
No comment has yet been posted to the RSF’s official channels.
Dilling, along with Kadugli to the south and El Obeid to the north, is currently held by SAF but surrounded by territory controlled by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), who have been allied since March last year.
A siege has been in place in Dilling for much of the time since the early stages of the war, although it was partially lifted in July 2024 and February 2025.
Kadugli remains under a long-running siege, while the RSF and SPLM-N are currently trying to impose one on El Obeid.
Numerous pieces of social media footage appeared to show people in Dilling welcoming SAF soldiers and celebrating their arrival on Monday, although it should be noted that SAF has been previously accused of widespread repression and atrocities against civilians in areas that it controlled or was trying to capture, including earlier this month in North Kordofan.
Speaking to Avaaz on Monday morning, before the siege was broken, Dilling resident Basher said the sounds of fighting around the city were “loud and continuous”.
“The army is shelling, and RSF drones are visible in the sky,” he said. “The situation is changing and unstable.”
He said families were fleeing in large numbers, though added that the journey out of the city could be unsafe and take a long time.
“Children are hungry, and elderly women are suffering from exhaustion. People are unable to help each other, and there is a serious need for food,” he said.
Repeated attempts by SAF to resupply Dilling and its garrison in the city over the last year have failed, and the breakthrough follows weeks of clashes to both the north and south, Sudan War Monitor reports.
Recent months have also seen Dilling repeatedly targeted with drone strikes believed to have been carried out by the RSF, including one on Saturday that killed two civilians and injured dozens of others, according to the Sudan Doctors Network.
It followed a strike earlier this month that killed seven, including three children and two women, and one in December that killed 16.
At least 1,415 people are estimated to have been displaced from Dilling just since the start of this year, according to the International Organization for Migration.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has said it believes famine is present in Dilling, although it has not issued a formal classification - as it has in Kadugli - for lack of available data.
The break of the siege follows the loss of a number of key areas by SAF since the Kordofan region became the centre of the conflict over recent months, including the town of Babanusa and the Heglig oil field in neighbouring West Kordofan state.
The weekly dispatch features the latest developments, first-hand testimony, footage, photos, stats and analysis on Sudan. We can connect you with voices from the ground, experts, and survivors of the war. Get in touch on +44 7514 796 678 or sudan@avaaz.org
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