Essential goods reach Dilling as Sudan army breaks siege

January 30 2026 (DILLING) – Essential goods flowed into Dilling on Friday, the second-largest city in South Kordofan state, sparking an immediate and sharp drop in prices in local markets.

The breakthrough follows the Sudanese army’s announcement on Jan. 26 that it had ended a long-running siege of the city by linking it to North Kordofan state from the east. The move came after fierce battles against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their ally, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) led by Abdel Aziz al-Hilu.

More than 10 trucks carrying sugar, flour, sorghum, onions and fuel reached the city from North Kordofan. This was the first convoy of this size to reach Dilling in more than two years, according to local sources who told Sudan Tribune that most goods had been available since Friday morning.

Sources said markets were stocked with large quantities of onions, which had been completely unavailable for the past six months. Sorghum prices plummeted, with a bag falling to about 40,000 Sudanese pounds from 400,000 previously. The price of a kilogram of sugar fell to about 3,400 pounds from nearly 25,000 pounds.

Residents previously relied on smuggling via pack animals along rugged routes from West Kordofan State, with trips taking days. The siege had intensified after the RSF and SPLM-N coordinated their efforts to block the city.

Dilling had been under a tight blockade since April 2023, leading to a severe shortage of essential supplies and record price hikes that left many residents unable to afford basic items.