Fighting displaces nearly 65,000 from Sudan's Kordofan region

Intensifying combat in southern Sudan has triggered a major new wave of internal displacement, with close to 65,000 civilians forced from their homes in the Kordofan region since late October. The International Organization for Migration reported Monday that escalating insecurity, driven by fierce fighting between the national army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, is the primary cause of the exodus from North, South, and West Kordofan states.

Breakdown of the Displacement Crisis

According to preliminary IOM data, approximately 64,890 people were displaced between October 25 and December 30, 2025. The agency's field teams documented 56 separate displacement incidents, with the vast majority occurring in North and South Kordofan. North Kordofan was the hardest hit, accounting for over 42,780 of those displaced, followed by South Kordofan with about 21,860. A further 250 people fled the Geibaish area in West Kordofan. The IOM cautioned that these figures are subject to change as the volatile security situation continues to evolve.

The Broader Context of Sudan's Civil War

The displacement in Kordofan is a direct consequence of the wider civil war that erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces commanded by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti). This brutal conflict has resulted in thousands of deaths and displaced millions across the country. The RSF currently controls most of the Darfur region in the west, while the army maintains dominance over much of the north, east, and central regions, including the capital, Khartoum.

A Deepening Humanitarian Catastrophe

The fighting in Kordofan represents a significant southward expansion of the war's frontline, threatening to engulf new areas and populations. The displacement of tens of thousands in just three months underscores the rapid deterioration of security and the severe strain on humanitarian resources. As the conflict approaches its third year with no political resolution in sight, the people of Sudan continue to bear the devastating brunt of a war between rival military factions.