January 26, 2026 — Dalena Reporters
The Sudanese Armed Forces announced on Monday that they had successfully broken a prolonged siege of the city of Dilling in South Kordofan State, where paramilitary fighters from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) had cut off access for more than a year and a half, according to military statements.
In a statement released by army officials, they said their troops “succeeded in opening the Dilling road after carrying out a successful military operation,” claiming they had inflicted heavy losses on RSF fighters during the assault.
Dilling strategically located between Kadugli (the besieged state capital) and El-Obeid had been under de facto encirclement by the RSF and allied forces, cutting off supplies and movement for civilians and combatants alike. The opening of the road is expected to strengthen the army’s presence in both the northern and southern approaches to the city.
Videos circulating on social media showed Sudanese army personnel in the city celebrating and engaging with local residents following the advance, though independent verification of the footage and the full situation on the ground was not immediately possible, and the RSF had not issued a formal response to the army’s claims as of this reporting.
The conflict between Sudan’s regular army and the RSF stems from a power struggle that erupted in April 2023, plunging the country into one of the world’s worst ongoing civil wars. Tens of thousands of people have been killed and millions displaced since the fighting began.
Opening the Dilling route represents a potential milestone in the protracted conflict, with implications for supply lines, civilian access, and the broader military dynamics in the Kordofan region.