KORDOFAN, SUDAN — The ongoing civil war in Sudan has reached new levels of brutality as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) carried out one of the deadliest massacres of the conflict in North Kordofan, killing over 200 civilians and razing entire villages, including Shaq al-Noum, according to satellite analysis and witness accounts.
The Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL) at Yale University released satellite imagery showing smouldering ruins, widespread destruction, and thermal scarring consistent with arson. Tracks from vehicles were seen circling the destroyed homes, indicating a methodical sweep of the area by RSF units.
The attack on Shaq al-Noum began on 12 July and lasted for several days. Most victims were either burned alive in their homes or shot dead, making it one of the most horrific acts of violence since the war broke out in April 2023.
According to Emergency Lawyers, an additional 38 people were killed in simultaneous RSF assaults on nearby villages—Fojah, Umm Nabag, Jakouh, and Mishqah. Dozens more have reportedly been detained or forcibly disappeared. Eyewitnesses reported explosives being used in homes and straw houses catching fire rapidly.
The strategically vital Kordofan region—which connects the capital Khartoum, Darfur, and el-Fasher—has become a key battleground. Analyst Kholood Khair noted the intensifying back-and-forth combat resembles the early stages of the conflict, with RSF attempting to reclaim ground near el-Obeid, which remains under army control.
On 13 July, 46 more civilians, including pregnant women and children, were killed in Hilat Hamid. Meanwhile, Sudan’s Armed Forces (SAF) airstrikes in West Kordofan from 10–17 July resulted in 34 civilian deaths, further highlighting the spiralling violence.
Humanitarian operations in Kordofan are also being disrupted. Islamic Relief, which runs dozens of health centres with UNICEF and the World Food Programme, reported that two of its offices were looted amid RSF incursions. Aid efforts in RSF-occupied areas remain perilous, though humanitarian groups continue to operate where possible.
Over 12 million people have been displaced by the war, and aid groups are warning of a worsening humanitarian disaster as both RSF and SAF seek military gains ahead of the drier months of October and November.
Sudan’s army-led government continues to operate from Port Sudan, while the RSF has formed an administrative base in Nyala, South Darfur. Observers believe both factions are positioning themselves ahead of expected diplomatic interventions, particularly from the United States.
