RSF and SPLM-N buildup near Kurmuk sparks fears of imminent attack
February 5, 2026 (KURMUK) – A local official on Thursday reported a significant buildup of Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) troops near Kurmuk in the southern Blue Nile region, warning of an imminent attack as 1,500 displaced people arrived in the city.
On February 3, the RSF and SPLM-N launched an offensive against three locations in southeastern Sudan, including the town of Deim Mansour. There are accusations that Ethiopia facilitated the movement of these forces through Assosa in the Benishangul-Gumuz region via the SPLM-N stronghold of Yabus.
Deim Mansour, located approximately 17 kilometres south of Kurmuk on the Ethiopian border, is considered a strategic gateway. Military sources said its fall could pave the way for an assault on Kurmuk itself. Field reports indicated that the town was attacked by a large force supported by drones that targeted the army’s defensive positions for several hours.
The SPLM-N, led by Abdel Aziz al-Hilu, previously claimed it had seized control of Deim Mansour, Khor al-Boudi, and Bashir Noqo.
Abdel-Ati Mohamed al-Faki, the commissioner of Kurmuk, told Sudan Tribune that “Janjaweed militias”—referring to the RSF—and forces loyal to Joseph Touka of the SPLM-N were seeking to target the provincial capital with regional backing. He stated that army artillery had been striking fixed and mobile targets belonging to the RSF and its allies since Thursday morning in an effort to disperse them and push them away from the city.
Historically, Kurmuk was a major battlefield for 22 years before the peace agreement between the Sudanese government and the SPLM, led by John Garang. The town changed hands several times, with the SPLM entering in 1987 and 1997 before the government military reclaimed it.
The commissioner accused the RSF and SPLM-N of attempting to destabilize the Blue Nile region through regional support, displacing thousands and looting property to serve the interests of neighbouring countries. He emphasized that the Sudanese armed forces were prepared to repel the attacks and deter those he described as outlaws.
According to the commissioner, the attacks on Deim Mansour and Khor al-Boudi have triggered a wave of displacement, with 1,500 people registered arriving in Kurmuk so far. He noted that although the areas are near the border, those fleeing have moved deeper into Kurmuk rather than crossing into Ethiopia.
On January 26, the army regained several positions in the Bau district of Blue Nile from an alliance of the RSF and SPLM-N, just one day after the coalition had seized them using forces that reportedly launched from within South Sudan.