Khartoum / Al-Hamish’s Voice – October 8, 2025 – Local sources from South Kordofan State reported that forces belonging to the SPLM-N, led by Abdelaziz al-Hilu, have withdrawn from battlefronts in the city of Al Fashir, North Darfur State, after suffering significant losses in recent days.
The sources added that the battalion affiliated with the movement, estimated at around 330 fighters, had departed from its stronghold in Kauda on September 21, 2025, passing through Tangoli, Habila, and Ed Dubeibat, before reaching Nyala and then Al-Fashir to take part in the battles against the Sudanese Armed Forces.
According to the information obtained, the battalion suffered heavy human losses, with an estimated 55 killed and more than 150 wounded, some of whom did not receive medical treatment due to the difficulty of field evacuation. The sources added that those injured in areas controlled by other tribal groups are often left behind to die.
The reports indicated that the surviving members of the battalion retreated toward Nyala and then to En Nahud, where another SPLM force is stationed. The withdrawal reportedly took place amid growing discontent and resentment among the fighters over what they described as “racist treatment” by some members of allied militias.
The sources said that the withdrawn forces are currently gathering in areas east of Ed Dubeibat and at the Um Dulu camp in preparation for their return to Kauda, following directives issued by the SPLA General Staff to reorganize their ranks and recover from the recent losses.
It added that a number of fighters have expressed their desire to withdraw completely from the fighting, while some are reportedly seeking mediation to surrender themselves either to the command of the 54th Brigade in Dilling or to the Sudanese Army command in the Kazgil area.
The sources confirmed that the decision to withdraw came after mounting losses and declining morale within the battalion, in addition to field-level disagreements over coordination with the RSF in the combat zones of North Darfur State.
As of now, the SPLM-N has not issued any official statement regarding reports of the withdrawal or its participation in the ongoing fighting in Darfur.
