At least 21 people, including women and children, have been killed in a fresh attack in Sudan’s South Kordofan state, according to the Sudan Doctors Network, as fighting in the strategically important region continues to intensify.

The medical network said the attack was carried out by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), which is allied with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The violence reportedly targeted the areas of Debi and Luweiri, south and west of Kauda, where members of the Otoro tribe live.

The group said women and children were among those killed and that others were wounded. The violence also reportedly forced large numbers of civilians to flee their homes in search of safety.

The Sudan Doctors Network condemned the attack and accused SPLM-N forces of targeting civilians on an ethnic basis, describing the alleged displacement as a serious violation of international humanitarian law and protections afforded to civilians during armed conflict.

Renewed violence in the Nuba Mountains

The latest bloodshed comes amid a sharp escalation of fighting in South Kordofan, one of the most contested regions of Sudan's war.

South Kordofan has increasingly emerged as a major front in the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), the RSF and allied armed groups. SPLM-N forces under Abdelaziz al-Hilu have maintained a strong presence in the Nuba Mountains, while the RSF has sought to expand its influence across the region.

The latest attack follows another deadly episode in late August, when the Sudan Doctors Network reported that 27 people, including four children, were killed in attacks in Qardud and Abu Hamama, areas also inhabited by the Otoro community. The attacks reportedly triggered another wave of civilian displacement toward Abu Hitan and Kadugli.

The repeated violence has raised concerns that fighting in South Kordofan could increasingly take on a communal and ethnic dimension, further complicating efforts to protect civilians and secure humanitarian access.

Kauda becomes another focal point

Kauda and the surrounding Nuba Mountains have become increasingly important in the latest phase of the conflict. Recent reports indicate that SPLM-N forces have taken control of Kauda, while fighting and competing territorial ambitions have continued elsewhere in South Kordofan.

The region is also strategically important because control of South Kordofan provides access to key roads and supply routes connecting central Sudan with areas farther south and west.

The intensification of fighting has already produced substantial civilian displacement. Aid organizations have warned that civilians in several parts of Sudan are facing severe shortages of food, water and medical assistance as fighting disrupts supply routes and humanitarian operations.

Sudan's wider humanitarian crisis deepens

The latest attack comes as Sudan enters another phase of its devastating civil war, which began in April 2023 when fighting erupted between the SAF and RSF.

The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced more than 13 million, according to recent estimates cited by international agencies and media reports. Famine and acute food insecurity continue to affect parts of the country, while health infrastructure has been severely damaged.

A recent UN fact-finding mission has also warned that foreign military assistance and the growing use of drones are helping sustain the war. The investigation reported that more than 1,000 people were killed in drone attacks during the first half of 2026, with both sides accused of attacks that may constitute war crimes.

The UN investigation has called for stronger enforcement of the arms embargo on Sudan and greater international efforts to halt the flow of weapons that are prolonging the conflict.

Civilians bear the brunt

For residents of South Kordofan, the latest violence represents another devastating blow after months of fighting, displacement and deteriorating humanitarian conditions.

The Sudan Doctors Network has called for the protection of civilians and accountability for attacks against non-combatants. The latest killings also underline the growing danger posed by the fragmentation of the conflict, as armed groups, tribal forces and the country's main military factions compete for territory.

With fighting continuing around Kauda and other strategic areas of South Kordofan, fears are growing that further violence could trigger another wave of displacement and deepen an already catastrophic humanitarian crisis.

International pressure for a ceasefire has so far failed to bring a lasting end to Sudan's war, while civilians remain trapped between competing armed factions and increasingly dangerous front lines. (ILKHA)