Four livestock traders have been killed in an armed robbery in Sudan’s South Kordofan state, highlighting worsening insecurity along commercial routes amid the country’s ongoing conflict.
The victims were travelling between Khod al-Waral and Rajul al-Marafi after returning from Al-Qufail market when unidentified gunmen intercepted them, according to local Sudanese media.
Sources in Hajju al-Jawad told Darfur24 that the attackers seized the traders’ livestock and cash before opening fire, killing all four.
The victims were identified as Badr Mohammed Badr, Mohammed Eid Ali, Al-Tahir Mohammed and Al-Tom Obeidallah.
The identity of the attackers remains unconfirmed, and no armed group has been independently linked to the killings.
The incident comes amid growing concerns over lawlessness across the Kordofan region, where armed robberies, livestock theft and attacks on civilians have become increasingly common.
Sudan’s war, which erupted in April 2023, has severely weakened security structures, disrupted trade routes and contributed to the proliferation of weapons across large parts of the country.
Livestock traders have become particularly vulnerable as they travel between rural markets carrying cash and valuable animals.
The continuing violence has further undermined local commerce and livelihoods in a region already suffering from displacement, economic hardship and prolonged insecurity.
