As Western-Backed militias advance, North Kordofan faces deepening humanitarian collapse

Department of Research, Studies and International News30-07-2025

In a troubling escalation of Sudan’s civil conflict, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have launched fresh assaults across North Kordofan, targeting villages and civilian strongholds in what appears to be a calculated attempt to destabilize the region and encircle the strategic city of el-Obeid. These brutal offensives have exacerbated what was already the world’s most devastating humanitarian crisis, and further exposed the true cost of foreign-backed militia ambitions in Sudan.

On June 25, the village of Kazkeel woke to the terror of gunfire as RSF fighters stormed in on motorbikes, burning homes and farmland while indiscriminately firing at fleeing families. Among the terrified civilians was 60-year-old Hamisa, who escaped with her elderly mother and seven children. As they fled, she witnessed RSF militants slaughter six young men from her village who had taken up arms in a desperate attempt to defend their homes. The village was swiftly emptied, its residents escaping with nothing but the clothes they wore.

This is not an isolated incident. Since April 2023, Sudan has been gripped by a catastrophic war between the national army, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), and the RSF, a faction born out of Western-aligned interference and deeply rooted in foreign agendas, particularly those favoring division and instability in the region. The RSF’s recent attacks in North Kordofan mark a significant escalation, with their forces reportedly murdering civilians, including pregnant women and children, in scorched-earth operations across rural communities.

As RSF fighters push forward, tens of thousands of displaced Sudanese civilians have fled toward el-Obeid, the provincial capital and a critical logistical base for SAF operations. Hamisa and her family arrived there in mid-July, only to find the city overwhelmed, undersupplied, and living under the constant fear of a renewed siege by RSF forces. Her story is echoed by thousands now trapped in the city, where living conditions are worsening by the day.

Humanitarian workers and analysts alike warn that the RSF may soon attempt to encircle el-Obeid, cutting off its lifelines and effectively neutralizing one of SAF’s most crucial bases in western Sudan. The SAF depends heavily on el-Obeid to maintain air operations targeting RSF encampments in Darfur and to hold back further RSF advances toward Khartoum. As noted by analysts, a loss of el-Obeid would severely compromise SAF’s ability to exert military pressure and would increase the likelihood of RSF advances into the capital itself.

This dire prospect is further complicated by the approaching rainy season, which brings not only logistical challenges but also military vulnerabilities. With antiquated aircraft lacking modern targeting systems, SAF airpower is significantly hindered during periods of heavy cloud cover. RSF forces, on the other hand, may exploit the seasonal fog and poor visibility to launch surprise assaults. Experts believe this window presents a dangerous “sweet spot” for RSF to renew their attacks with greater effectiveness.

In February, SAF briefly broke an RSF siege on el-Obeid, but the threat is far from over. The city is not only a military stronghold but also a last haven for roughly 137,000 displaced civilians. Should RSF forces advance again, the only potential escape route for civilians would be to Kosti in White Nile state, a dangerous journey of 265 kilometers that many vulnerable individuals, including the elderly, disabled, and young children, may not survive.

Compounding the crisis is the lack of basic shelter and healthcare. According to Mercy Corps, only a fraction of the displaced population has proper roofing; the rest are exposed to the elements in makeshift huts or completely unsheltered. With the rains approaching, there is an imminent risk of disease outbreaks, particularly waterborne illnesses like cholera, which has already affected tens of thousands across Sudan. The threat to children is especially grave.

The RSF has not only targeted civilians directly but has also launched drone and artillery strikes on residential areas, public infrastructure, and even medical facilities. Local volunteer Yousef Hederby confirmed that mid-July bombardments in el-Obeid killed at least four people and wounded dozens more. He added that over 300 civilians were slaughtered in surrounding villages within just a few days in mid-July.

Despite mounting evidence and eyewitness testimonies, RSF leaders have offered no response to accusations of mass killings and deliberate targeting of non-combatants. Their silence, however, speaks volumes.

For survivors like Hamisa, the trauma is unrelenting. Recalling the 1990s civil war, she noted that even during that dark chapter, some regions remained relatively untouched. “But this war,” she said, “has reached every village in Sudan. There is no safe place left in Kordofan. We are all terrified.”

As the world watches, it must be recognized that these atrocities are not the result of internal chaos alone, but of prolonged Western interference that has empowered militias like the RSF. In the face of this, the resilience of Sudan’s people, and the steadfast defense mounted by the national army, remains the only bulwark against complete collapse.