Ongoing hostilities in and around Kadugli town in Sudan’s South Kordofan State have led to the targeting of a UN helicopter on August 10, a UN Mission said.
South Kordofan State has Sudan’s main oil fields and borders West Darfur State as well as South Sudan.
In a statement extended to Radio Tamazuj Friday evening, the United Nations Interim Security Force in Abyei (UNISFA) expressed serious concern about the ongoing hostilities in and around Kadugli.
The mission called on all parties to the conflict to exercise restraint and safeguard the safety of civilians and peacekeepers operating under the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism (JBVMM).
“We are deeply concerned about the firing and shelling with heavy weapon systems in Kadugli and surrounding areas, resulting in valuable loss of lives and the gradual displacement of hundreds of civilians from their homes. It is of utmost importance that all parties to the conflict refrain from targeting civilians,” it said.
“We urge the warring factions to not target our peacekeepers as the JBVMM continues to carry out its mandated tasks in and around Kadugli and in our team sites in the fulfilment of the mandates set forth in the United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCR) establishing JBVMM,” it added.
UNISFA appealed for immediate de-escalation of tensions and the protection of the rights and freedoms of civilians. It also urged all parties to embrace constructive dialogue that seeks a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict.
As the conflict between the Sudanese armed forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) its fourth month, both sides have launched intense recruitment campaigns to boost their forces. Meanwhile, the RSF and the Abdelaziz al-Hilu faction of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) continue to expand their control over territories in Darfur and South Kordofan States, respectively.