The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) expresses profound concern for the safety of civilians in Babanusa town as renewed clashes started between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in June 2025 over control of the town. These ongoing conflicts have placed residents in a tough humanitarian situation.
Babanusa is a town located in West Kordofan State within the Kordofan Region, about 74 kilometers west of Alfula, the state capital. It features the second Sudanese Railway Station (SRS) after Atbara in River Nile State, where the SRS headquarters are situated. The town also hosts the historic Dairy Factory, which was closed in 1990 by the previous government of the National Congress Party (NCP), a year after they assumed control of Sudan. Moreover, Babanusa serves as the headquarters for the 22nd Division of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). It is also a key bypass route between Sudan and South Sudan, impacting social and community relations among residents near the border.
The conflict that started in April 2023 affected most of Sudan, but civilians in Babanusa remained safe until January 24th, 2024. On that day, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched attacks to seize the city, causing at least 500,000 people to be displaced. Babanusa became the only city where all residents evacuated, leaving it completely empty. The residents had to leave all their belongings behind and moved to nearby towns within West Kordofan State, such as Al-Taboun, Umm Jack, Al-Gentaur, and Al-Fula.
Several days later, RSF launched an attack on Al-Fula, which was hosting IDPs from Babanusa. This forced both residents and IDPs to flee toward Alnhood town in West Kordofan State. After this large-scale civilian exodus from Babanusa and Al-Fula, the RSF shifted its military focus to Alnhood, further displacing civilians to El-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan State. El-Obeid served as a temporary haven and is under RSF control.
Some civilians have since returned home to Babanusa but are living under dire conditions. Currently, residents rely heavily on the support provided by youth-led Emergency Response Rooms in the affected areas. We therefore urge international humanitarian organizations to offer urgent aid, including basic necessities like food, clothing, and protection from the elements.
We also urge the belligerents to ensure that all civilians, especially IDPs, are protected and their inherent rights are upheld by complying with regional and international human rights treaties ratified by Sudan.
Background
The RSF controls much of West Kordofan, a crucial state in Sudan’s oil-rich region. Meanwhile, the army remains in charge of Babanusa and some nearby oil fields around Heglig. For several months, tribal leaders in Babanusa tried to prevent the conflict from spreading into their areas since the war started in Sudan. However, in January 2024, RSF targeted the city and has been attacking the SAF base at Babanusa. They have not yet captured it, as the SAF has laid mines around the headquarters and some streets in the northern and eastern neighborhoods. Notably, there are no neighborhoods occupied by civilians to the west of the SAF headquarters, while the area south of the railway station remains under their control.