Sudan Army Breaks Al-Dalanj Siege Amidst Reports of Hunger and Death

Al-Dalanj Siege Broken

• ⚡ The Sudanese army announced it has broken a prolonged paramilitary siege on the southern city of Al-Dalanj.
• 📌 This breakthrough, if sustained, could represent a shift in momentum following recent gains by the RSF.

Survivor Accounts of Hardship

• 💔 Survivors from Al-Dalanj described the city as a place of hunger and death during the siege.
• 😭 One survivor, Zakia Ramadan, reported that four of her children died from hunger.
• 🍽️ She and her children were forced to eat leaves and animal skin due to extreme scarcity.
• 💥 Drones and artillery strikes reportedly hit houses and markets, causing numerous family casualties.

Context of the Conflict

• 🗓️ The siege began shortly after the war started in April 2023 between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
• 🤝 The siege intensified when the RSF allied with the SPLMN rebel group, which controls territory in the region.
• 🗺️ The RSF and SPLMN reportedly blocked different sides of the city, tightening the blockade.
• 📍 Al-Dalanj is located in the South Kordofan region, which has become a focal point of fighting.
• 📈 The RSF captured Al-Nuhud in the western Darfur region in October, contributing to displacement in South Kordofan.
• 👥 Over 25,000 people have been displaced from South Kordofan since October, according to the UN's human rights office.