RSF Cuts South Kordofan Relief Routes After Heavy Fighting
RSF resumes offensive operations after month-long lull in fighting
The Sudanese Rapid Support Forces (RSF) mounted coordinated attacks against the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) over several days along the southern, northern, and eastern approaches to Dilling, South Kordofan, targeting the town’s main supply corridors. By Monday, RSF elements had established control over critical stretches of the Dilling–Kadugli and Dilling–Habila roads, effectively severing both routes and undoing the Sudanese Armed Forces’ recent relief operations in South Kordofan.
With international attention elsewhere and no credible mediation effort ongoing, fighting in Sudan is likely to continue for a fourth year. The civil war has forced millions from their homes and shut down schools and universities across much of the country. Millions of teens and young men are now in military training camps, as two alliances—one led by SAF and the other by the RSF—continue to make preparations for a long war.
The latest fighting took place at a crossroads where the RSF had successfully attacked army positions in December 2025, before withdrawing. Recent SAF drone attacks targeting RSF logistics and fuel supplies, verified by Sudan War Monitor in West Kordofan and Abyei, southwest of the frontlines, impeded RSF operations and resulted in a lull in the fighting over the past month.
Mobile SAF units and relief supplies reached the besieged cities of Dilling and Kadugli in late January and early February 2026, respectively, easing food prices and resulting in claims that the sieges had ended.
However, the rebel alliance sieging the two cities downplayed the arrival of relief forces and supplies, asserting that they had never intended to totally starve the two cities. Further, they said the SAF units had snuck in through back ways, maneuvering to avoid RSF units, and that they still controlled portions of the main north-south road in Kordofan.
The latest RSF operations further extend the rebels’ control along the key supply corridors and highlight the persistent threat to Dilling and Kadugli. Videos reviewed and geolocated by Sudan War Monitor confirms RSF presence at multiple points along these axes. On the Dilling–Kadugli road, videos recorded on Monday show RSF vehicles and personnel in Keiga Timero (التقاطع) at 11°24’49.67”N 29°39’51.53”E. Fighters are seen standing along the main road in the centre of the village. In the footage, a soldier filming himself states that the date is 13 Ramadan, corresponding to March 2, 2026. The location is about 40 kilometers north of Kadugli, the state capital.
Another footage geolocated to a village 7 km south of that junction (11°27’45.60”N 29°41’48.08”E) shows an RSF convoy entering a village (also called Junction) following what appears to be the withdrawal of SAF forces. Fighters are seen along the roadside and moving into north into the centre of the village, confirming they attacked from the north. With these locations under RSF control, the Dilling–Kadugli highway is cut at multiple points.
To the east of Habila, Sudan War Monitor confirmed RSF control of Al-Tukma, located approximately 10 kilometres from Dilling here (12° 0’4.72”N 29°45’0.13”E). Control of this position severs the road linking Dilling to Habila. This operation raises the likelihood of new clashes along the Dilling-Habila axis, or in Dilling itself, which the RSF attacked once in January 2024.
SAF units continue to control the majority of eastern South Kordofan, with troop concentrations at Abu Kershola and Abu Jubeiha, and smaller outposts at Dalami, Kortala, Habila, and other locations.
Meanwhile, the SPLM-North insurgents control the much of the mountains region in the south and center of the state. They are allied with the RSF, but their forces have been less active in offensive operations. In the latest videos reviewed by Sudan War Monitor, only RSF fighters are visible. No identifiable SPLM-North insignia or other distinguishing marks appear in the material.
SPLM-North maintains deep familiarity with terrain and local routes in South Kordofan and has historically operated in the rural areas around Kadugli and Dilling, without posing a major risk to the cities themselves (unlike the RSF, which now overrun numerous SAF garrisons over the past three years).
However, the SPLM-North does not maintain a media presence comparable to that of the RSF, and its fighters appear less frequently in social media footage. It remains unclear whether SPLM-North participated directly in the latest advances or played a supporting role not visible in available videos.
Meanwhile, RSF and SAF drones continue to bombard each other’s territory. A suspected SAF drone fired three rockets at the city of Muglad in RSF-controlled West Kordofan this morning, while several buildings in El Obeid were damaged Monday in a suspected RSF attack, including a medical clinic.
The drone war in Sudan has continued to escalate in recent months, inflicting heavy casualties on both soldiers and civilians alike, even as ground fighting has slowed down significantly.
Videos
In this video, RSF soldiers seen at Keka Geru on Monday. One of the soldiers speaking said it is 13th Ramadan, which is March 2, 2026. This video is geolocated to this location here: 12° 0’4.72”N 29°45’0.13”E.
In this video, RSF convoy is seen entering Tagata village. This video is geolocated to this location, here: 11°27’45.60”N 29°41’48.08”E.
Graphic: RSF fighters are seen at Al-Tukma village, east of Dilling (12° 0’3.80”N 29°44’46.84”E, along with the body of a SAF-affiliated fighter, amid sounds of ongoing fighting.
Sudan War Monitor is a project of independent researchers and journalists, unaffiliated with either of the warring parties. Our goal is to battle disinformation and warmongering, amplify the voices of victims, humanitarians, and peacemakers, and provide accurate information to assist ordinary citizens to understand the war and make sense of conflict news.