Sudan army breaks Dilling siege for third time, enabling aid delivery

May 19, Dilling — The Sudanese Armed Forces broke the siege of Dilling, the second-largest city in South Kordofan, for the third time on Monday, enabling the resupply of army units stationed there and the delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians caught in the conflict.

The city has been an active front since the start of the year, with the army and its allied Joint Force fighting against a coalition of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) led by Abdelaziz al-Hilu.

The army had previously broken the siege twice — in January and April — by opening routes connecting Dilling to North Kordofan state through rough terrain, each time easing the humanitarian situation. However, the RSF and SPLM-N reimposed the blockade in late April after seizing the town of Al-Takma, located roughly seven kilometres east of Dilling.

Mohammed Didan, spokesman for the Special Operations Forces, said on Facebook that “the army pushed massive military reinforcements into Dilling after eliminating the groups surrounding it.” Pro-Joint Force platforms also reported that a military convoy had reached the city following heavy fighting against the RSF-SPLM alliance in the Al-Takma area.

Eyewitnesses said a number of civilian vehicles carrying food supplies entered the town shortly after the route was secured, with dozens of residents taking to the streets in celebration.

Last week, scores of trucks that had been stranded in the Kurtala area carrying food destined for Dilling and then Kadugli — South Kordofan’s state capital — returned to El Obeid after failing to reach their destinations.

Dilling, a densely populated city, has been gripped by a severe humanitarian crisis caused by the sieges. Residents have faced acute shortages of food and medicine, while the city has come under near-daily attacks from RSF artillery and drones, which have damaged health facilities and destroyed large parts of the main market.