SPLM-North: Deling Civilian Shelling Kills 5 in South Kordofan

• On September 4, 2026, the SPLM-North shelled Deling, South Kordofan, killing five civilians, including a child, and injuring others.
• The attack involved over 30 Katyusha and 120mm artillery shells, targeting residential neighborhoods like Al-Faraqil and Al-Hujairat.
• The Sudan Doctors Network condemned the incident, asserting it was a clear violation of international norms and International Humanitarian Law.
• The network called for urgent international action and pressure on SPLM-North leadership to cease targeting civilians and hold them fully responsible.
• Local sources reported the SPLM-North, allied with the Rapid Support Forces, carried out the dawn shelling on the city.

The Sudan Doctors Network explicitly asserted that such actions represent a clear violation of established international norms that prohibit the targeting of non-combatants and civilian infrastructure.

On Friday, September 4, 2026, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-North) launched an artillery attack on Deling, the second-largest city in Sudan's South Kordofan state, resulting in the deaths of five civilians and injuries to others. The shelling, which involved more than 30 Katyusha and 120mm artillery shells, occurred in the early morning hours, according to local sources who spoke with Sudan Tribune. The targeted areas included the Al-Faraqil and Al-Hujairat neighborhoods, situated in the western part of the city, as well as other southern and western districts.

The Sudan Doctors Network (SDN) confirmed the casualties, reporting that among the five fatalities was a child. The network attributed the attack to the SPLM-North, led by Abdelaziz al-Hilu. This incident marks another instance of civilian harm in the ongoing conflict, with the SPLM-North, allied with the Rapid Support Forces, implicated in the assault on urban centers.

The Sudan Doctors Network swiftly issued a statement condemning the artillery strike, highlighting that the shelling specifically targeted civilian objects and residential areas within Deling. The network explicitly asserted that such actions represent a clear violation of established international norms that prohibit the targeting of non-combatants and civilian infrastructure. This incident provides further evidence of potential International Humanitarian Law (IHL) violations by the SPLM-North, which lawyers specializing in war crimes, human rights, or sanctions monitoring should track for documentation, accountability efforts, and risk assessments related to parties in the Sudanese conflict.

The SDN emphasized that the repeated use of heavy artillery against Deling's residential neighborhoods not only causes civilian casualties but also terrorizes the populace and exacerbates the already dire humanitarian situation faced by the city's residents. The network unequivocally stated that the SPLM-North's targeting of civilian areas and objects with heavy weaponry constitutes a direct breach of International Humanitarian Law, underscoring the severe legal implications of such military conduct in the Sudan conflict.

In response to the egregious attack and the mounting evidence of civilian harm, the Sudan Doctors Network issued an urgent appeal to the international community. The network called for immediate intervention to halt these violations and to exert substantial pressure on the leadership of the SPLM-North, specifically Abdelaziz al-Hilu, to cease the targeting of civilians and residential areas. This demand underscores the critical need for South Kordofan civilian protection amid the escalating hostilities.

Furthermore, the SDN stressed that the SPLM-North must be held fully accountable for these violations and the resulting losses. The network's strong stance highlights the broader concerns about adherence to International Humanitarian Law in the Sudan conflict and the imperative for international bodies to address alleged SPLM-North war crimes evidence to ensure justice and prevent further atrocities.

This incident provides further evidence of potential International Humanitarian Law (IHL) violations by the SPLM-North, which lawyers specializing in war crimes, human rights, or sanctions monitoring should track for documentation, accountability efforts, and risk assessments related to parties in the Sudanese conflict.

Source: Original reporting via Sudan Tribune and Sudan Doctors Network