Kordofan region intensifies as major battleground in Sudan war

Fighting in Sudan’s Kordofan region has intensified, establishing the area as a primary battleground in the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The region, encompassing North, West, and South Kordofan, serves as a critical corridor between the SAF-controlled central regions and the RSF-controlled Darfur in the west.

Recent combat has seen an increase in aerial warfare, with frequent and deadly drone strikes hitting towns and civilian infrastructure in North Kordofan. Since the conflict began in April 2023, Kordofan has accounted for one in five recorded attacks in the country.

Data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED) indicates that between April 2023 and September 2026, there were 14,648 recorded attacks in Sudan. The Khartoum capital region remains the most affected with 5,719 attacks, followed by North Darfur with 1,999 and Gezira state with 1,435.