The Committee for Justice (CFJ) has documented the deaths of dozens of civilians following intense drone strikes that targeted the city of Dilling and its surrounding areas, including the road linking it to Kadugli, the capital of South Kordofan State, on Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning, 31 December 2025.
According to local sources, drones operated by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched continuous attacks on the city for the second consecutive day, resulting in significant civilian casualties, including displaced people who had fled areas of active clashes. Sources confirmed that one of the strikes targeted a site used as a gathering point for internally displaced persons within the city.
Field reports indicated that the death toll exceeded 40 civilians as a result of the sustained artillery and aerial bombardment over two days, amid the total incapacity of local medical facilities to handle the scale of injuries due to severe shortages of medical supplies and equipment.
Sources added that Dilling is suffering from acute shortages of food and medical supplies as a result of a suffocating blockade imposed by the RSF and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement–North (SPLM‑N), exacerbating the humanitarian crisis and exposing civilians to severe risks.
CFJ noted that verifying the exact scale of casualties has been extremely difficult due to telecommunications blackouts and the shutdown of Starlink satellite internet, leaving the city nearly isolated from the outside world and limiting the flow of information.
Although Dilling is currently under Sudanese Army control, it remains under tightening siege from the RSF and SPLM‑N amid ongoing military escalation. On Tuesday, 30 December 2025, both groups announced their takeover of three military garrisons in Al‑Taqatu’, Hajar Al‑Duleiba, and Al‑Laffa, with threats to advance towards Kadugli.
A humanitarian relief source in Kordofan confirmed that military developments across South Kordofan have accelerated significantly, particularly around Dilling and Kadugli, as armed groups seek to control strategic transport routes. He added that the RSF has transported shipments of advanced weapons into the region in recent weeks, signaling further escalation.
CFJ warned that continued bombardment and siege constitute grave violations of international humanitarian law, particularly the principles of protecting civilians and prohibiting attacks on civilian objects. The committee called for an immediate halt to the attacks, guaranteed access for humanitarian aid, and the opening of an independent investigation into violations committed against civilians in South Kordofan.
