Sudan Conflict Kills at Least 14 Civilians in RSF Attack near El Obeid
At least 14-18 civilians were killed and dozens wounded in an RSF attack on the Umm Arda area southwest of El Obeid in North Kordofan, Sudan, triggering fresh displacement of over 300 families amid the Sudan conflict.
Attack on Umm Arda and Civilian Casualties
Local sources and the Emergency Lawyers group reported that the RSF attack on Umm Arda and two nearby localities killed at least 18 people and wounded 17 others, according to Sudanese media and on-the-ground accounts. [1] The Emergency Lawyers group stated that the assault killed more than 14 civilians and injured dozens more based on initial information. [2] The incidents occurred on Friday in the Umm Arda area southwest of El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan state. [2] The group described the attack as part of ongoing military operations that have worsened humanitarian conditions in areas already facing sieges and shortages of basic services. [2]
Displacement and Humanitarian Impact
The incursion forced more than 300 families to flee their homes on foot, creating a new wave of displacement in the region. [1] Health authorities in El Obeid received 23 unaccompanied minors, including several infants, who arrived under the care of unrelated civilians. [1] The Emergency Lawyers group noted that civilians in the area are experiencing fear and a deterioration in humanitarian conditions following the assault. [2]
Sudanese civilians displaced by RSF attack in North Kordofan flee their homes on foot. — Source: gdelt
Conflicting Claims by Warring Parties
Sudanese Army sources said they repelled two RSF offensives targeting Umm Arda and Jabal Hashaba. [1] The RSF claimed full control of Umm Arda after forcing the withdrawal of Sudanese Armed Forces and reported advances on Kordofan and Blue Nile fronts. [1] The Emergency Lawyers group condemned the targeting of civilians and called on the RSF and all conflict parties to immediately halt attacks that endanger noncombatants or force their displacement. [2]
Broader Context of Fighting in Kordofan
Sudanese civilians displaced by RSF attack in Umm Arda near El Obeid, North Kordofan. — Source: anadolu
Military operations have intensified in recent weeks in North Kordofan, aggravating the impact on the civilian population. [1] Clashes between the army and RSF have taken place across the three Kordofan states since 25 October 2025. [2] The Emergency Lawyers group highlighted that these operations are exacerbating an existing humanitarian catastrophe in regions already under siege and lacking essential services. [2]
National Conflict Overview
The war between the Sudanese Army and RSF since April 2023 has killed tens of thousands and created one of the world's largest displacement crises. [1] Estimates indicate about 11.3 million people have been forcibly displaced due to the outbreak of conflict in Sudan since April 2023, including 6.5 million internally and 4.6 million in neighboring countries. [5] The Emergency Lawyers group pointed to the continuation of military operations in North Kordofan as a factor that compounds civilian suffering. [2]
Calls for Protection and Aid Access
The Emergency Lawyers group demanded that the RSF and all parties to the conflict immediately stop attacks targeting civilians, take all necessary measures to avoid harming them, and allow urgent, safe, and unimpeded humanitarian access to those affected, the wounded, and the displaced. [2] The group warned against endangering civilians or compelling them to flee their homes. [2]
What to watch next: Army and RSF statements on control of Umm Arda and Jabal Hashaba, along with any further reports of displacement or unaccompanied minors reaching El Obeid, will indicate whether the pattern of intensified operations in North Kordofan continues.
