In a significant escalation of violence in Sudan, paramilitary forces have claimed control of two strategic towns as the nation grapples with a cholera outbreak that has claimed at least 70 lives in the capital, Khartoum, over the past week. This ongoing conflict, which has raged for more than two years, pits the Sudanese Armed Forces, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a powerful paramilitary group that has gained increasing strength.
The RSF announced on Thursday that it has successfully retaken Dibeibat in South Kordofan state and Al-Khoei in West Kordofan, marking a critical shift in the dynamics of control within the war-torn country. A representative of the RSF characterized the liberation of these towns not only as a tactical victory but also as a consolidation of their dominance over much of the Kordofan region. Al-Khoei, strategically located approximately 100 kilometers from El-Obeid—a vital junction connecting Khartoum to the Darfur region—had been briefly recaptured by the army earlier this month, underlining the back-and-forth nature of the conflict.
Reports from local residents confirm that Dibeibat, which serves as a vital link between North and South Kordofan, is now under the RSF’s control. This shift in territorial power illustrates the broader division of Sudan, with military forces largely holding sway over central, eastern, and northern regions, while the RSF maintains control over significant portions of Darfur and parts of southern Sudan. Analysts indicate that the ongoing hostilities have resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and have forcibly displaced approximately 13 million people, creating what the United Nations has labeled the world’s most severe humanitarian crisis.
Recent military actions have intensified in Khartoum, where, just last week, the military-backed government announced it had displaced RSF fighters from their last strongholds in the state. This development comes two months after the Sudanese Armed Forces managed to retake the heart of the capital, yet the humanitarian situation within the city remains dire, with health and sanitation infrastructures in a state of near-total collapse.
With nearly 90% of hospitals in the main areas of conflict unable to operate, the health implications for the civilian population are dire. The outbreak of cholera that has emerged in Khartoum has been attributed to the deteriorating conditions fueled by the relentless conflict. According to the health ministry, the cholera crisis has reached alarming proportions, with over 2,100 new infections reported within just a few days, and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has noted that the true scale of the outbreak remains challenging to ascertain due to “significant discrepancies” in available data.
While the federal health ministry has documented 172 cholera-related deaths in the week leading up to Tuesday, it has reported that 90% of fatalities occurred in Khartoum state. Authorities claim that 89% of patients in isolation facilities are recovering; nevertheless, they have also warned that worsening environmental factors are contributing to a surge in cases. In response, cholera vaccinations have commenced in Jebel Awila, one of the districts hardest hit by the outbreak, with the World Health Organization dispatching over 22 metric tons of necessary supplies to combat the outbreak.
Cholera is not new to Sudan, but the frequency and severity of outbreaks have escalated since the onset of the current war. Since August alone, health authorities have identified more than 65,000 cases and over 1,700 deaths across 12 of Sudan’s 18 states. Experts warn that the intersection of conflict, mass displacement, destroyed infrastructure, and limited access to clean water is exacerbating the cholera crisis, as highlighted by Eatizaz Yousif, the International Rescue Committee’s Sudan director, who characterized the situation as a potential public health disaster.
Adding to the complexities of Sudan’s situation, the government is currently facing U.S. sanctions over allegations that its military used chemical weapons in the ongoing conflict with the RSF. In a recent statement, Sudan’s foreign ministry announced the formation of a national committee to examine these allegations, publicly expressing skepticism regarding the validity of the accusations made by the U.S. administration.
As the rainy season approaches, humanitarian agencies have raised alarms about the imminent risks of further disease transmission, particularly as deteriorating infrastructure and danger impede access to aid. Without immediate international support and intervention, the situation threatens to worsen significantly, compounding the already severe challenges facing millions in Sudan. The unfolding events in the country illustrate not only the harsh realities of a conflict-ridden landscape but also the intricate web of humanitarian crises that extend far beyond the borders of Sudan itself.