The battle for Kordofan: the corridor linking Sudan's east and west

Kordofan, the region lying between Darfur to the west and central Sudan to the east, has emerged as a critical corridor in Sudan's civil war, which has raged since April 2023.

According to recorded data on attacks across Sudan since the conflict began, roughly one in five documented strikes has occurred in Kordofan, underscoring the region's strategic importance to both sides of the war.

The fighting pits the Sudanese Armed Forces against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, with control of transit routes and territory across the country's center remaining a key objective for both parties.

Kordofan's position as a link between Sudan's eastern and western territories has made it a focal point for forces seeking to control movement of troops, supplies, and displaced civilians between the country's regions.

The human toll of the broader conflict has been severe, with large-scale displacement and humanitarian need reported across the areas most affected by fighting, though comprehensive, verified figures specific to Kordofan were not available at the time of reporting.

A contested crossroads

Analysts and observers tracking the war have pointed to Kordofan's geography as a reason the region has drawn sustained military attention, given its role connecting the war's two most contested zones.