SPLM-N rebels kill 27 in South Kordofan, including four children, says Sudan Doctors Network

Sudan Doctors Network reported that forces of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM‑N) killed 27 civilians in South Kordofan, including four children, during a series of attacks earlier this week. The network, which monitors health and humanitarian conditions in conflict zones, said the victims were shot in multiple villages near the town of Kadugli, the state capital.

According to the organization’s statement, the killings occurred as part of ongoing clashes between SPLM‑N rebels and Sudanese government forces that have intensified since the 2023 peace talks stalled. The doctors network could not independently verify the identities of all the deceased, but it confirmed that the victims were non‑combatants, many of whom were women and elderly. The incident adds to a growing tally of civilian casualties in South Kordofan, a region that has seen repeated displacement and disruption of medical services throughout the civil war.

The Sudan Doctors Network called for an immediate investigation and urged all parties to respect international humanitarian law, emphasizing the need to protect civilians, especially children, in the contested area. International observers have previously highlighted South Kordofan as a flashpoint in Sudan’s broader conflict, and the latest report underscores the urgency of renewed diplomatic efforts to halt the violence.