The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has suspended its operations in Sudan’s South Kordofan state after General al-Burhan’s forces (SAF) blocked an aid convoy in Kadugli, the state capital, at the end of December.
The NRC said it would halt activities until the matter was resolved with the state’s Humanitarian Aid Commission.
According to sources within the NRC, Brigadier Kafi Tayara, commander of SAF reserve forces in South Kordofan, intercepted an NRC convoy of three vehicles heading to humanitarian distribution centers on December 31. Witnesses reported that Tayara tore down NRC flags and logos from the vehicles and threatened staff with violence if NRC vehicles or emblems were seen in the city again.
The NRC had been providing food and supplies to approximately 6,000 families in Kadugli’s neighborhoods, including Murtah, Kolba, Tafri Al-Majma, and Tilo, among others. Monthly aid packages were valued at approximately 850,000 Sudanese pounds per family.
In response to the blockade, NRC workers have removed all visible branding from their offices and distribution centers in Kadugli and have been instructed not to wear uniforms bearing the NRC logo while in the city.
SAF Leaders Accusations Spark Concerns
On January 3, Brigadier Tayara spoke at Kadugli’s main mosque, accusing the NRC of corruption and supporting church-related activities under the guise of humanitarian aid.
His remarks echoed broader allegations from local Islamist groups, including members of the National Congress Party and affiliated organizations, who claim that some international aid projects exclude Islamic studies and favor Christian agendas.
Tayara’s comments align with a wider campaign by Islamist and SAF-affiliated groups in Kadugli to oppose aid operations they do not control.
In recent weeks, similar accusations have been made against education programs funded by international organizations, which were criticized for excluding Islamic studies from their curriculum despite covering core subjects like Arabic, mathematics, and English.
Humanitarian Crisis at Risk
Kadugli’s humanitarian needs have escalated amidst Sudan’s ongoing conflict between General al-Burhan’s SAF and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Aid workers and local analysts warn that halting NRC operations could severely impact vulnerable populations, including those in urgent need in neighborhoods such as Al-Salamat, Al-Souq Al-Shamali, and Al-Ban Hadeed.
The NRC is awaiting intervention from state authorities to ensure the safety of its staff and the resumption of aid deliveries. However, local observers say the growing hostility toward international aid organizations reflects deeper political and ideological divides within Sudan’s fractured military and Islamist factions.
This incident underscores the challenges facing humanitarian organizations operating in Sudan’s conflict zones, where political tensions, security risks, and bureaucratic interference routinely disrupt relief efforts.
