Sudan Army Breaks RSF Siege of Dilling Town in South Kordofan After 2 Years

Sudan’s Armed Forces (SAF) say they have broken the two-year siege of Dilling, the second-largest city in South Kordofan, marking one of the most consequential territorial shifts since the war with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) erupted in April 2023.

In a statement issued Monday, the military said it opened the Dilling road “after a successful military operation that resulted in routing and destroying the RSF militia,” adding that government troops inflicted heavy losses in lives and equipment. The army vowed “to continue cleansing the country of the RSF militia until security and stability are restored across the country.”

Witnesses described SAF units entering the city after clashes with RSF fighters and their ally, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), with crowds welcoming convoys in scenes circulated on social media.

The rebel forces had maintained a crippling blockade on Dilling since January 2024, a closure that aid groups say tipped the city into famine and cut humanitarian access across much of South Kordofan. Even as aid partners begin to reach families who were cut off for months in Kadugli and Dilling, humanitarian groups have said access remains constrained, underscoring the need for sustained safe passage to deliver additional supplies and deploy relief staff.

The Fight for Corridors

According to the SAF spokesperson, the operation linked Dilling to North Kordofan via the eastern road and seized the strategic town of Habila, restoring supply lines after roughly two years of isolation. The military also said remaining RSF elements fled under sustained pressure from government forces.

The breakthrough follows a broader campaign across the southern front. On Dec. 27, 2025, Sudan’s army said it had carried out airstrikes aimed at restricting the movements of RSF and SPLM-N units after the sieges of Kadugli and Dilling, signaling a coordinated effort to reopen corridors and fragment opposition control.

Military analysts cited by local outlets framed the reopening of Dilling as a potential staging point for further moves toward Kadugli, the state capital, which remains under blockade.

The territorial balance underscores the fragmented map of Sudan’s 18 states. The RSF controls all five states in the western Darfur region, except parts of North Darfur, while the army holds most of the remaining 13 states across the south, north, east, and center, including Khartoum. Since the conflict began in April 2023, thousands have been killed and millions displaced, with South Kordofan among the hardest hit due to prolonged sieges of urban centers.

RSF Massacres

The humanitarian toll has been underscored by the World Health Organization, which condemned the reported killing of more than 460 patients and their companions, along with the abduction of six health workers on Oct. 28 at the Saudi Maternity Hospital in El Fasher, following videos of RSF massacre circulated on social media sites, highlighting the scale of risks to civilians life in beseiged areas.

The UAE-backed RSF maintained their battlefield strength through a layered mercenary network, combining foreign specialists with regional fighters to reinforce operational capacity. Cross-border recruitment pipelines and flexible logistics chains continue to sustain RSF operations, allowing the group to offset losses and adapt quickly across multiple fronts.

Supply Lines and Civilian Pressure

Breaking the Dilling blockade restores a vital artery between South and North Kordofan, but the humanitarian toll remains acute. Recent fighting and air operations have driven thousands of residents toward North Kordofan under difficult conditions, aid organizations say, compounding shortages created during the siege.

Videos posted by soldiers showed celebrations in Dilling, yet relief agencies stress that reopening roads does not immediately resolve food scarcity after months of isolation.

There was no immediate comment from the RSF on the loss of Dilling. Yet Sudan Army’s statements emphasized momentum and continuity of operations, presenting the capture as part of a nationwide campaign. Still, the wider war shows few signs of abating. The struggle between SAF and RSF has reshaped Sudan’s political geography since 2023, with cities like Dilling becoming both military objectives and humanitarian lifelines.