Heavy Artillery Clashes Erupt in Kauda, South Kordofan

Heavy clashes and artillery shelling erupted in Al-Gardoud village in the Kauda area of South Kordofan State, with fighting reported in residential neighborhoods following a period of relative calm.

Kauda has witnessed rising tensions since March over tribal boundary demarcation disputes, which later escalated into clashes between the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement–North (SPLM-N) and members of the Otoro tribe, whom the armed group describes as “rebels.”

Sources from Kauda told Darfur24 that the attack on Al-Gardoud village began at 5:00 a.m. using heavy artillery, targeting residential areas and displacement gathering sites. The sources said the attack was carried out by elements affiliated with the SPLM-N.

The sources reported deaths and injuries as a result of the attack, which also led to the burning of civilians’ homes and the theft of cattle, forcing hundreds of residents to flee to valleys and forests with no basic necessities.

They described the attack as the most intense since the outbreak of clashes in Kauda.