The once allied Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been locked in brutal conflict since April 2023, with the battlefront now shifting to the oil-rich region’s three states.

It comes after RSF fighters seized El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, last month following a year-long siege marked by widespread killings, sexual violence, torture and other atrocities. 

History repeating itself

Mr. Türk urged all States with influence over the parties to take immediate action to halt the fighting, and stop the arms flows that are fuelling the conflict.

“It is truly shocking to see history repeating itself in Kordofan so soon after the horrific events in El Fasher,” he said.

“The international community stood united then, unequivocally condemning the barbarous violations and destruction. We must not allow Kordofan to become another El Fasher.”

Deadly airstrikes, revenge killings

The RSF captured Bara city in North Kordofan on 25 October.  Since then, the UN human rights office, OHCHR, has documented at least 269 civilian deaths from aerial strikes, artillery shelling, and summary executions.  

However, civilian casualties are likely to be higher as reporting has been hindered by telecommunications and internet outages. 

There have also been reports of retaliatory killings, arbitrary detention, abductions, sexual violence and forced recruitment – including of children. 

Many civilians have reportedly been detained, accused of “collaborating” with opposing parties, Mr. Türk added, while fears are mounting over the use of hateful and divisive speech.

The violence has also triggered mass displacement, with over 45,000 people fleeing to safety within or outside the region. 

Humanitarian response affected

Aid teams in Sudan issued a joint statement that condemns in the strongest terms the escalating violence across the Kordofan region and the ongoing sieges that have cut off multiple cities.

“The violence is restricting access to food, medicine and essential supplies, and is limiting farmers’ access to their fields and markets, heightening the risk of famine spreading across the Kordofan states,” it said.

Mr. Türk noted that an RSF drone strike reportedly killed 45 people in El Obeid, North Kordofan, on 3 November while an SAF strike in Kauda, South Kordofan, on 29 November reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least 48 people – most of them civilians.

Fears for Kadugli and Dilling

He warned that the towns of Kadugli and Dilling in South Kordofan are particularly at risk as they have been besieged by the RSF and an allied group, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM-N). 

Humanitarians reported that communities remain trapped, facing extreme hardship, severe restrictions on movement and limited access to essential services and protection. 

Famine conditions have also been identified in Kadugli, and sustained attacks have been reported in Babanusa, West Kordofan, over recent days.

‘We cannot stand idly by’

“We cannot remain silent in front of yet another man-made catastrophe,” Mr. Türk said, appealing for an end to the fighting and access to people facing starvation

“Have we not learned our lessons from the past? We cannot stand idly by and allow more Sudanese to become victims of horrific human rights violations. We must act, and this war must stop now.”

The Sudan conflict has created one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises, with some 30 million people needing assistance.

Humanitarians continue to operate despite the immense risks, reaching some 1.1 million people across the Kordofan region alone. 

OHCHR is calling for more action to end the violence and achieve justice.

“While the interim authorities have taken encouraging steps towards addressing past violations, these steps are only the beginning of what needs to be done,” spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheethan told journalists in Geneva.

Summary executions and arbitrary killing

Since last December, Syria’s interim authorities have established national commissions for transitional justice and missing persons, among other measures.  

A draft law on transitional justice has been announced, and trials have begun into deadly violence that occurred in coastal areas in March.

“Yet, we continue to see distressing accounts of summary executions, arbitrary killings and abductions, mainly targeting members of certain communities and individuals accused of affiliation with the former government,” he said.

Minorities affected

Hundreds have been killed over the past year by the security forces and affiliated groups, elements associated with the former government, local armed groups and unidentified armed individuals. 

Other reported violations and abuses include sexual violence, arbitrary detentions, destruction of homes, forced evictions, and restrictions on freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly.

Alawite, Druze, Christian and Bedouin communities were mainly affected by the violence, which has been fed by rising hate speech both on and offline.

Incursions by Israeli forces

“The past year has also been marked by repeated Israeli military operations, including incursions, and occupation of additional territory,” Mr. Al-Kheethan added. 

OHCHR has received reports of civilian casualties, as well as arrests and home searches.

The spokesperson noted that the integration of former armed groups into Syria’s new security forces has so far happened hastily and without proper human rights vetting.

This is crucial to ensure that perpetrators of serious violations do not enter their ranks and to prevent further violations.

Accountability essential for Syria’s transition

“All violations – past and present – must be independently, thoroughly and transparently investigated, and those responsible held to account,” he said.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has called on the authorities to take action to address the root causes of the violations.  

He stressed that accountability, justice, peace and security for all Syrians are absolute prerequisites for a successful transition.

In a statement on Sunday, António Guterres paid tribute to the “resilience and courage of the Syrian people, who never stopped nurturing hope despite enduring unimaginable hardship.” He described the past year as proof that “meaningful change is possible when Syrians are empowered and supported in driving their own transition.” 

“What lies ahead is far more than a political transition; it is the chance to rebuild shattered communities and heal deep divisions,” the UN chief said. “It is an opportunity to forge a nation where every Syrian – regardless of ethnicity, religion, gender or political affiliation – can live securely, equally, and with dignity.” 

A year of fragile progress

Since Assad fled Damascus last December, the UN has worked closely with Syrian authorities and civil society to stabilize the country and lay the groundwork for inclusive governance. Efforts have focused on restoring essential services, expanding humanitarian access, and creating pathways for refugees and displaced persons to return.

In another sign of progress and hope, the UN refugee agency reports that more than one million refugees have returned since December 2024, alongside some two million people inside Syria who have gone back to their communities of origin.

Transitional justice initiatives have begun to take shape, while Syrian women have emerged as key voices in shaping new institutions and demanding equality.

Humanitarian needs remain immense, but the past year has seen progress in rebuilding local governance structures and broadening civic participation – steps the UN says are vital for an “inclusive and accountable Syria.”

The UN Independent Commission of Inquiry welcomed these steps, noting that access long denied has finally been granted, and engagement on human rights is underway. It praised the creation of national bodies on transitional justice and the missing, while cautioning that Syria’s transition remains fragile amid continuing insecurity and sporadic violence in several governorates.

The Commission, which was established by the UN Human Rights Council in August 2011 to investigate all alleged violations of international human rights law since March 2011 in Syria, underscored the enduring pain of thousands still forcibly disappeared and warned that cycles of reprisal must end for peace to take root.

“Moving beyond the legacies of 14 years of war will take strength, patience and support,” it said, urging Syrians and the international community to work together so that rights long denied become a reality for all.

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Call for global support 

In is message, Mr. Guterres urged the international community to “stand firmly behind this Syrian-led, Syrian-owned transition,” stressing that success depends on sustained funding for humanitarian appeals, removing barriers to reconstruction, and promoting economic development. 

“On this anniversary, we stand united in purpose – to build a foundation of peace and prosperity and renew our pledge to a free, sovereign, united, and inclusive Syria,” he said.