More than 7,000 families have been forced to flee their homes in Sudan’s West Kordofan state as fresh clashes erupt between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The conflict has intensified around the strategic towns of Al Nuhud and Al Khuway, with both locations witnessing waves of displacement between May 1 and 2, IOM reported on Monday.
The RSF launched a surprise offensive on May 1, seizing Al Nuhud—a key transportation hub—by the following day. Government forces withdrew initially to Al Khuway and later regrouped in Al Ubayyid, the capital of North Kordofan state.
While the army has since recaptured Al Khuway, fighting continues around nearby villages, raising fears of further displacement.
In its latest update, the IOM said 7,204 families had been displaced in total. Of these, 5,451 families fled from Al Nuhud, many seeking refuge in neighboring areas such as Ghubaysh, Wad Banda, As Salam, and West Bara.
An additional 1,678 families fled from Al Khuway, with many relocating within the locality or moving toward West Bara. An attack on Al Sardabah village on May 2 also forced 75 families to flee.
A coalition of army-aligned forces known as the Al-Sayyad (The Hunter) mobile force is reportedly advancing to retake RSF-held areas across West Kordofan. Local sources say this may be part of a broader military strategy to push towards East Darfur or break the RSF siege in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur.
The RSF has mobilized reinforcements to key towns in West Kordofan in an effort to stall the army’s progress, raising the specter of more intense clashes and further civilian displacement.
Aid agencies have warned that renewed violence could deepen the already dire humanitarian crisis, compounding food insecurity, disrupting aid delivery, and placing additional strain on host communities.
Sudan’s internal conflict, which began in April 2023, continues to devastate civilian populations across multiple regions, with millions displaced and critical infrastructure severely damaged.