Thousands flee Sudan’s al-Khwai after RSF seizes control – IOM

June 1, 2025 (AL-KHWAI) – Thousands of families have fled Al-Khuwai in West Kordofan state, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported on Sunday.

The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) seized control of Al-Khuwai late last week after hours of fighting, accompanied by drone strikes that killed several army commanders, including the leader of the Kordofan liberation mobile forces.

“Between May 29 and May 30, DTM field teams estimated that 2,715 households were displaced from al-Khwai town of Al-Khuwai locality, West Kordofan, due to clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF),” the IOM stated.

“Households were primarily displaced to locations across al-Khwai locality in West Kordofan, as well as Gharb Bara and Sheikan localities in North Kordofan. The situation remains tense and highly fluid.”

An earlier RSF attack on al-Khwai on May 2 had already displaced 1,678 families. This was followed by clashes that forced 11,840 individuals to flee the town, which the army briefly recaptured before the RSF reasserted control.

Al-Khuwai’s strategic location on a road leading to North Darfur state and another extending to al-Nuhud and then to East Darfur has made it a highly contested area between the warring parties.

The region is expected to witness further battles as the army seeks to control it to advance into North Darfur or western Darfur, or at the very least, to establish it as an advanced defence for the North Kordofan capital, El-Obeid.