Violence erupted once again in southern Sudan’s town of Lagawa, where a series of devastating strikes attributed to the Sudanese army claimed the lives of at least 15 individuals on Monday. The attacks also left dozens wounded, medical personnel on the ground. This surge in hostilities comes amid an ongoing and brutal conflict between Sudan’s national army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has been raging for three years and shows no signs of abating.
The southern Kordofan region, where Lagawa is situated, has become one of the most intense battlegrounds in this protracted war. The RSF currently controls West Kordofan state, including Lagawa, while the army holds sway over other parts of the region. Medical workers in Lagawa reported receiving 15 bodies and 23 injured patients from multiple neighborhoods, underscoring the widespread impact of the shelling. For safety reasons, the medical source chose to remain anonymous but confirmed the severity of the situation.
In response to the attacks, the RSF accused the Sudanese army of deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, markets, and residential areas, using drones to carry out systematic bombardments. Both factions have faced repeated accusations of war crimes throughout the conflict, with indiscriminate shelling and civilian casualties becoming tragically common. The humanitarian toll of this war is staggering, having already resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and displaced approximately 11 million people, thereby triggering one of the world’s most severe hunger and displacement crises.
The Kordofan region holds strategic importance as it links RSF strongholds in western Darfur with army-controlled territories to the east. The conflict here is marked by near-daily drone strikes that have caused significant casualties. The Sudanese army has been attempting to halt the RSF’s advance, pushing paramilitary forces back toward Darfur and away from the capital, Khartoum. Just days earlier, a drone strike on a hospital in El-Daein, the capital of East Darfur state, resulted in the deaths of at least 64 people, highlighting the conflict’s devastating impact on civilian infrastructure.
Meanwhile, the violence has spilled over into neighboring countries. Last week, an attack blamed on the RSF in the Darfur border town of Tine led to 17 deaths in Chad, illustrating the regional instability caused by the Sudanese conflict. The eastern front of Sudan, bordering Ethiopia, has also witnessed escalating clashes. Here, the RSF launched an offensive against army positions along the border, aiming to expand their control in the southeastern Blue Nile State.
This region is particularly complex, with control divided between the Sudanese army and RSF allies, including a faction of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) led by Abdelaziz al-Hilu. The SPLM-N has maintained a foothold in the area for years, leveraging supply routes from both Ethiopia and South Sudan. Recent fighting near the border town of Al-Kurmuk, a key army stronghold, has been intense, with the RSF and SPLM-N forces reportedly capturing the nearby area of Gurt and continuing their push toward Al-Kurmuk.
Adding to the complexity, Sudan’s army has accused Ethiopia of involvement in the conflict, claiming drone attacks have been launched from Ethiopian territory. Ethiopia has denied these allegations, rejecting claims that it is providing sanctuary to RSF camps. Satellite images analyzed recently reveal significant activity at Ethiopia’s Asosa airport, a site previously used as a drone base, raising questions about the extent of cross-border involvement. Last year, thousands of RSF fighters reportedly crossed into Ethiopia, further complicating the regional security landscape.
As the conflict in Sudan intensifies, the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, with civilians caught in the crossfire and vital infrastructure repeatedly targeted. The ongoing battles in Kordofan and along the Ethiopian border underscore the fragile and volatile nature of the region, where multiple armed groups vie for control amid a backdrop of deep-rooted political and ethnic tensions. The international community remains watchful as the crisis unfolds, with urgent calls for ceasefire and humanitarian access growing louder.
