SPLM-N urges civilians to flee South Kordofan cities

January 2, 2026 (KADUGLI) – The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) on Friday urged civilians to evacuate towns in South Kordofan and called on government forces in Kadugli and Dilling to surrender.

For approximately 9 months, the Tasis forces, a coalition led by Abdel Aziz al-Hilu’s SPLM-N and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), have besieged Kadugli and Dilling, the largest cities in South Kordofan state. Battles have been raging on several fronts outside the cities, which have also been subjected to shelling, triggering a massive wave of displacement.

The Chief of Staff of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-North (SPLA-N), Izzat Kuku Angelo, called on officers and soldiers of the Sudanese army’s 14th Infantry Division in Kadugli and the 54th Infantry Brigade in Dilling to hand over the cities to avoid loss of life, property, and infrastructure.

In a statement, the SPLM-N chief of staff said the Tasis forces are set to take control of both Kadugli and Dilling. In what he described as a final appeal, he urged the residents of the two cities to leave all Sudanese army military sites and head toward areas under SPLM-N control.

He noted that instructions had been issued to the Tasis forces to open crossings and ensure a proper reception for civilians until they reach shelter centres. He added that the movement is working with humanitarian partners to provide basic services despite the continuous influx of people.

The appeal follows a demand made two days ago by the Nuba Mountains Bar Association, which called on the army to immediately hand over Kadugli, the state capital, and Dilling, the state’s second-largest city, to al-Hilu’s movement.

In a statement, the bar association declared its support for an initiative presented by traditional leaders and civil society organizations for the Nuba Mountains people last week. The initiative called for the army to surrender South Kordofan cities to the Tasis forces, represented by the SPLM-N, and to allow humanitarian aid to be delivered.

The association also expressed support for the international Quartet’s peace roadmap to end the war in Sudan. It demanded an end to the conflict in Sudan and the Nuba Mountains, while calling for the exclusion of the dissolved National Congress Party, the Islamic Movement, and their affiliates from the future political process.