Nairobi, August 11 (Darfur24)
Air traffic at Nyala International Airport in South Darfur State has increased over the past 10 days, according to residents and military sources, amid reports that some flights may be linked to the transfer of supplies and military equipment to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) following recent battlefield developments in Kordofan.
Residents of Nyala told Darfur24 that they had observed aircraft flying over the city during daylight hours in recent days before landing at the airport. They said such flights had been uncommon since the RSF reopened the airport in September 2024.
The residents reported that some of the aircraft produced loud noises during landing, leading them to believe that at least one may have been a large cargo aircraft. However, they could not identify the aircraft types or determine what they were carrying.
Two RSF sources told Darfur24 that the increased flights were linked to the transfer of military supplies and equipment to the airport. According to the sources, the activity followed the loss of several strategic positions in Kordofan.
The reports come after fighting in several parts of North Kordofan, where the Sudanese army said it had regained control of Umm Sayala, Jabra Al-Sheikh, Bara, and Umm Qurfa, as well as secured sections of the Omdurman–Al-Abyad export route, according to military sources.
The Kordofan region has since witnessed a military buildup by both the army and the RSF, with indications that the two sides are preparing for further fighting. The RSF has also deployed reinforcements and mobile units from Darfur towards Kordofan, according to military sources.
The military escalation has coincided with worsening living conditions in parts of North and West Kordofan. Residents reported that the price of a sack of sorghum had risen to about 600,000 Sudanese pounds, amid concerns that prices could continue rising as trade declines and access to supplies becomes more difficult.
Meanwhile, a delegation of community leaders and representatives from affected areas arrived in Nyala to call on officials of the “establishment” government to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to communities affected by the fighting and deteriorating economic conditions in Kordofan.
Darfur24 could not independently verify the nature of the flights, the identity of the aircraft, or whether military equipment was transported to Nyala Airport.