Sudan conflict escalates with mass displacement and mass grave discovery

The conflict in Sudan has escalated with the discovery of a mass grave containing at least 25 bodies, including women and children, in the recently retaken town of Kurmuk. Local officials accuse the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of executing the victims. Meanwhile, intense clashes in West Darfur have triggered a severe displacement crisis, forcing over 11,000 people to flee villages in Sirba locality within a 48-hour window, with many crossing the border into Chad as the army and RSF battle for strategic territories.

Kurmuk mass grave discovery

• ▪The Kurmuk mass grave contained the remains of children, women, and hospital staff who were reportedly executed near Jebel Fankat.
• ▪Kurmuk Commissioner Abdel Aty Mohamed al-Faki announced the discovery of the mass grave on August 9, 2026, during sweeping operations in the northeastern part of the town.
• ▪The Sudanese armed forces discovered a mass grave containing at least 25 bodies in the town of Kurmuk in the southeastern Blue Nile State.

RSF mass killings accusations

• ▪Local officials in Sudan accused the Rapid Support Forces of executing the victims found in the Kurmuk mass grave during the group's occupation of the town.
• ▪The Rapid Support Forces has faced prior accusations of carrying out mass killings in Khartoum, el-Fasher, and the central Gezeira state.

West Darfur displacement crisis

• ▪Clashes between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces in West Darfur displaced 5,975 people from seven villages in Sirba locality on August 9, 2026.
• ▪Most households displaced from Sirba locality on August 9, 2026, crossed the border into Chad, while others fled to El Geneina.
• ▪The International Organization for Migration reported that 5,135 people were displaced from 10 villages in Sirba locality on August 8, 2026, due to escalating security tensions.

Sudan conflict casualty toll

• ▪The World Health Organization estimates that the conflict in Sudan has killed approximately 40,000 people since it began in April 2023.
• ▪The International Organization for Migration recorded about 8.69 million internally displaced people in Sudan as of the end of June 2026.

Army-RSF territorial control battles

• ▪The Rapid Support Forces launched explosive drone attacks against the city of Kurmuk for two consecutive days around August 10, 2026.
• ▪The Sudanese army regained control of Kurmuk in Blue Nile State in July 2026 following weeks of heavy fighting with the Rapid Support Forces.
• ▪The Sudanese army repelled a large-scale attack by the Rapid Support Forces on the strategically located area of Bir Saliba north of El Geneina.

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