Landmine Explosion Kills 10 Civilians in South Kordofan
Six Children Among Victims as IDP Family Vehicle Hits Explosive Device
A landmine explosion killed ten civilians, including six children, in South Kordofan State on 12 February 2026, according to a human rights alert issued by Justice Africa Sudan.
The blast occurred on a civilian road in the Sanadra area of Al-Abbasiya Tagali locality when a vehicle returning from the weekly Thursday market struck an explosive device. The area is currently under the control of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement–North (SPLM-N), the statement said.
Most of the victims belonged to a single extended family. Those killed included elderly persons, women, and children, with the youngest victims aged five years old. The victims were internally displaced persons originally from Nimir Mountain who had relocated to Al Sanadra with their livestock.
The organization warned that the continued presence of landmines and unexploded ordnance in civilian areas poses a grave and persistent threat to life, freedom of movement, and access to essential services. Civilians in the area face growing risks as landmines endanger surrounding villages and restrict access to markets, farms, schools, and health facilities.
Justice Africa Sudan raised concerns under international humanitarian law, the Ottawa Mine Ban Treaty, and broader human rights protections, emphasizing obligations to protect civilians and clear contaminated areas.
The group called for an immediate investigation into the incident, clearance of landmines along the Al-Abbasiya–Sanadra corridor, accountability for violations, and emergency support for affected families.
The incident follows another landmine explosion in January 2026 on the Um Barambita–Khor Al-Dileib road in Abu Karshola locality, eastern South Kordofan, which killed two women traveling to market.
The explosion comes amid continued mass displacement across South Kordofan, where insecurity, shifting frontlines, and hunger have forced thousands of civilians to relocate. Many families have moved fled from the cities of Kadugli and Dilling toward White Nile State and other areas perceived to be safer, often passing through SPLM-controlled areas en route. Others have gone to smaller cities in South Kordofan, such as Abu Jubeiha and Abu Kershola, and still others fled to rural areas.
Weekly markets remain critical lifelines for displaced populations, providing access to food, basic goods, and limited income opportunities. Historically, merchants and farmers have been able to cross frontlines in South Kordofan State to participate in such markets, despite enduring conflict between the Sudanese military and the SPLM-North.
Human rights advocates say the latest deaths underscore the urgent need for expanded mine-action efforts and stronger civilian protection measures across South Kordofan.