The army reaches Kadugli and ends a siege that lasted for more than two years.

On February 3, 2026, the Sudanese Armed Forces, supported by joint forces and special operations units, entered Kadugli, the capital of South Kordofan State, ending a siege that had lasted more than two years. These developments came a week after the siege of Dilling was lifted following the recapture of Hebeila locality and several small villages in Al-Qouz locality. The military operation launched by the army at the beginning of the week was large-scale, aiming to reach Kadugli. There, they engaged in fierce battles with the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on the road linking Kadugli and Dilling. In this context, the army succeeded in capturing the towns of Al-Samasim and Al-Karkal before its forces linked up with a secondary group advancing from Kadugli in the town of Al-Kuweik. Military sources confirmed that the "Al-Sayyad" force, comprised of mobilized troops from the 16th Division in Nyala and elements affiliated with the joint force allied with the army, managed to enter Kadugli on Tuesday after battles in the Al-Kuweik intersection area north of the city. The same sources indicated that the army breached the advanced defensive lines of the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) in Al-Kuweik before advancing towards the city itself. The army's arrival in Kadugli broke the long siege imposed by these forces. The city witnessed an extraordinary atmosphere, as thousands of citizens gathered to welcome the Sudanese Armed Forces at the Al-Sha'ir Gate, the western entrance to Kadugli, while others lined the road leading towards the main market, government headquarters, and the 14th Infantry Division Command. Following the lifting of the siege, traders and humanitarian organizations were able to deliver supplies and food from northern Sudan and Khartoum via Al-Rahad in North Kordofan and Dilling, although the road linking Dilling and El Obeid remains under the control of the Rapid Support Forces. The prolonged siege caused a severe humanitarian crisis in Kadugli, displacing approximately 147,000 people, equivalent to 80% of the population according to UN data. Dilling is experiencing similar conditions as a result of its own siege.