Sudan and South Sudan face escalating violence and UN casualties

Conflict in Sudan has intensified across multiple fronts, with significant shifts in territorial control in the Blue Nile and Kordofan regions. The Sudanese army has expanded its presence in North Kordofan to secure strategic road networks, while the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have seized control of Kurmuk and Geisan in Blue Nile State, gaining near-total control over the Sudan-Ethiopia border.

In South Sudan, the security situation has deteriorated following an ambush by armed unknowns on a UN patrol in Jonglei State. The attack resulted in the deaths of two UN peacekeepers and injured seven others, including police and civilian staff. The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) noted that such attacks may constitute war crimes.

Both regions face ongoing instability driven by internal power struggles and external weapon flows. In South Sudan, tensions persist between supporters of President Salva Kiir and rival Riek Machar, while in Sudan, analysts suggest that continuous external support for both sides complicates efforts to reach a peace agreement.