Clashes in Sudan’s Kadugli after allied militia attempts to seize food

 July 22, 2025 (KADUGLI, South Kordofan) – Clashes erupted in the Sudanese city of Kadugli on Tuesday between the army and a formerly allied militia that tried to seize food from a market amid a deepening hunger crisis, two local sources said.

The fighting involved an armed group led by Kafi Tayar, who had been aligned with the army but recently threatened to open warehouses to feed starving residents in the capital of South Kordofan state.

“The confrontation began when Tayar’s forces attempted to take commodities from the main market and the army intervened,” one source told Sudan Tribune.

The violence underscores a severe food shortage in Kadugli, which is besieged by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) rebel group. The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have also blocked the remaining supply line from El-Obeid, complicating aid delivery.

A humanitarian assessment of displaced families in Kadugli, conducted by the Danish and Norwegian Refugee Councils, recently found that 96% could not meet their basic needs.

The report also found that 74% of families included a malnourished child and 64% lacked adequate shelter.

The crisis has been exacerbated by the South Kordofan government’s suspension of 30 aid organizations in April, including the Norwegian Refugee Council and World Vision, according to a public notice issued at the time.