Is Kadugli on the Brink of Famine?!

Mohammed Al-Zubair Ismail

One might be surprised by this headline, which seems contrary to reality in a country known for its fertile land. However, it is the stark truth, not due to natural factors such as climate or lack of rainfall, but rather due to human actions and what our hands have earned.

The crisis began to unfold after the rebellion of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia on April 15, 2023. They gradually paralysed life by imposing control over the capital, shutting down government offices, halting factories and workshops, closing markets, displacing labourers, and then looting resources, killing and robbing innocent citizens. As a result of these actions, the primary source of supply for the rest of the country, providing it with medicine and fuel, was cut off.

As a result, a large number of residents of the Triangle Capital (Khartoum) who trace their roots to the South Kordofan/Nuba Mountains fled the horrors of war, hoping to find a safe haven and food. However, they were surprised by the SPLA’s wide-ranging attacks. This led to the withdrawal of some military positions belonging to the armed forces and other government forces into the main cities. The SPLA besieged the city of Kadugli, attacking it several times in an attempt to take control of it, but failed due to the perseverance of the armed forces, government forces, and citizens.

In response to these events, life in South Kordofan, particularly its capital, began to deteriorate. This started with the power cuts due to the fuel depletion used in operating the Kadugli thermal power station. The suffering continued with the cessation of salary payments to government employees since last May. Life has deteriorated from a shortage of currency to a lack of liquidity and finally to a scarcity of food and life necessities, except for some supplies coming from South Sudan through the Niam market via the Western sector, which is equally dangerous given the invasion of the RSF rebels to the Baleela airport and some localities in West Kordofan bordering South Kordofan.

These combined factors and causes, after ten months of war, have brought humanitarian conditions in South Kordofan to the extreme, making the situation in Kadugli particularly dire. Its residents are starving due to the high price of corn, which has reached about a hundred thousand pounds per sack ($100), and flour, which is almost nonexistent. The danger lies not only in the food shortage but also in the deteriorating health situation, with the cessation of kidney dialysis centres, blood banks, and many emergency centres and hospitals deserted by doctors and staff, leaving them without medicine or doctors.

The possibility of a catastrophic situation has become evident, as suggested by some unofficial sources and statements from local civil society organisations recounting tragic stories. For example, a man with eight children found life too difficult, so he offered one of his sons for sale to feed his other children. The communications blackout is hiding the painful reality that Kadugli is experiencing, except for some news and stories that leak out to the media.

Today, we are bewildered by our silence in the face of these conditions, both by the state government and international and local humanitarian organisations. Since there is a limited movement by some civil society organisations warning of the danger, such as the General Union of Nuba with its leader, General Mohammed Markazu Kuku, located in the administrative capital, Port Sudan, and some discussions taking place in the corridors of the SPLA to Support the Nation, which was recently established to support the armed forces and respond to humanitarian situations.

Therefore, we must sound the early warning sirens and urgently appeal to the international community and global human conscience that humanity is indivisible. The people in Sudan are the same as those in Yemen, Ukraine, and Gaza. We call upon Mr. Antonio Guterres: Kadugli is calling, the Nuba Mountains is calling, Sudan call is calling.

Furthermore, we appeal to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and Chairman of the Sovereignty Council: rescuing our people deserves the use of all means and the mobilisation of all resources. We must strive for this through all means (by land and air).

We do not exclude our people in South Kordofan with all their parties, sects, and organisations. The homeland is the priority, as Sudan comes first, South Kordofan, and Kadugli.