News|Sudan warSudan army says two-year RSF siege of key town brokenDilling, a key route for supply lines, had under the paramilitary group’s control for nearly two years.
Sudan's military has announced the lifting of a nearly two-year siege by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on a key town in the Kordofan region, regaining control over crucial supply routes.
Sudan's military has announced the lifting of a nearly two-year siege by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on a key town in the Kordofan region, regaining control over crucial supply routes.
According to a statement released on Monday, the military reported reopening a road leading to Dilling town in South Kordofan province.
"Our forces inflicted heavy losses on the enemy, both personal and equipment," the statement indicated.
There was no immediate response from the RSF, which has been engaged in armed conflict with the military for control of Sudan for nearly three years.
Dilling is strategically located between Kadugli—the besieged state capital—and el-Obeid, the capital of neighboring North Kordofan province, which the RSF has attempted to encircle.
Sudan's military has announced the lifting of a nearly two-year siege by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on a key town in the Kordofan region, regaining control over crucial supply routes.
The military's capture of Dilling is considered a significant advancement, potentially facilitating further territorial gains in the province. The army is aiming to leverage this momentum to reclaim territory from both the RSF and its ally, the SPLM-N, led by Abdel Aziz al-Hilu, which also controls areas in South Kordofan.
Paramilitary forces are expected to counterattack and try to reclaim the lost territory by reallocating fighters from el-Obeid and Kadugli.
The humanitarian situation in Dilling is anticipated to improve as the military can now facilitate the entry of medical supplies, food, and other commercial goods previously blocked during the RSF siege.
After being expelled from Khartoum in March, the RSF shifted its focus to Kordofan and the city of el-Fasher , which was the military's last stronghold in the expansive Darfur region until it was captured by the RSF in October.
Following the paramilitary takeover of el-Fasher, reports of mass killings, rape, abductions, and looting emerged, prompting the International Criminal Court to initiate a formal investigation into alleged war crimes by both factions.
Dilling has reportedly faced severe hunger, though the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification did not declare a famine in its November report due to insufficient data. A United Nations-backed assessment previously confirmed famine in Kadugli, which has been under RSF siege for over eighteen months.
According to recent United Nations figures, more than 65,000 individuals have fled the Kordofan region since October. The conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of casualties and has been characterized by the UN as the world's largest displacement and hunger crisis, displacing approximately 14 million people at its peak, both internally and across borders.
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.
