Ayin network – شبكة عاين

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1 September 2026

To keep our readers informed of the multitude of events taking place in Sudan amidst the ongoing, devastating war, we have developed a series of weekly news briefs covering major topics of the week.

In this week’s edition:

Sudanese dialogue launches amid growing political boycott
RSF field commander leads new wave of defections to army
Sudanese currency plummets as government blames market speculation
Landmines and insecurity block displaced from returning to North Kordofan
Fresh Fighting in South Kordofan displaces over 300 people
At least 16 Sudanese dead in Egyptian custody, rights group reports
Escalating Blue Nile clashes force 20,000 to flee as army reinforces frontlines
Amri residents launch sit-in at Nile poultry company over profit-sharing dispute
Eight civilians killed in targeted drone strike

1) Sudanese dialogue launches amid growing political boycott

The “Sudanese Dialogue” initiative, ostensibly designed to usher in peace and a political transition, officially launched consultations on Sunday from Khartoum.

Academician Qasim Badri, head of the steering committee, told a press conference that holding the dialogue inside the capital serves as a “great advantage” for national ownership of the process. Media committee head Osman Mirghani Al-Hussein emphasised that the committee’s immediate focus is on creating a conducive atmosphere and building trust, asserting that “the task of uniting the Sudanese people is neither difficult nor impossible.”

In contrast, the Sudanese Declaration of Principles Forces rejected the initiative, arguing that conducting discussions under military control perpetuates geographical divisions and risks legitimising the continuation of the war.

The opposition coalition strongly condemned the African Union Commission’s endorsement of the talks, accusing the regional bloc of acting as “a partner in marketing a fake dialogue” rather than an impartial mediator. The African Union Commission had previously welcomed the dialogue led by an independent committee of “wise men,” expressing hope that it would support regional roadmaps towards a unified sovereign state.

Responding to the regional backing, Mirghani described the African Union’s position as “a critical step” that provides vital momentum for ending the conflict and restoring national stability.

2) RSF field commander leads new wave of defections to army

A military force of approximately 200 fighters, led by field commander Abu Bakr Hamouda Dahloub, has defected from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and aligned with the Sudanese army in Omdurman.

The defecting unit, which arrived fully equipped with military vehicles and weaponry, includes prominent figures such as Dahloub, who previously commanded the RSF Special Missions Intelligence Division in North Kordofan.

Field sources indicated that Dahloub belongs to the Mahamid tribe under Musa Hilal, a group that has seen several key commanders break away from the RSF recently.

Speaking upon his arrival in Omdurman, Dahloub confirmed his group’s complete integration into army operations, publicly stating that they had “made a mistake by joining the RSF.” The commander called on remaining RSF fighters across active combat zones to abandon the paramilitary group and join the ranks of the national armed forces.

This latest shift comes amidst an accelerating wave of internal breakaways, most notably marked by the October 2024 defection of Sudan Shield commander Abu Aqla Keikil along with thousands of troops.

Recent months have also witnessed high-profile breakaways by senior leaders, including Major General Al-Nur Ahmed Adam and Brigadier General Ali Rizqallah, across Kordofan and Khartoum.

3) Sudanese currency plummets as government blames market speculation

The Sudanese pound has suffered a dramatic decline in the parallel market, with the US dollar jumping from 6,100 to 6,550 pounds and the Emirati dirham reaching 1,840 pounds.

Currency traders in Omdurman attributed the surge to intense commercial demand for imported goods coupled with the commercial banking sector’s inability to supply foreign currencies.

In response to the economic slide, an emergency government committee, headed by Defence Minister Hassan Kapron, accused private companies and organisations of illegal currency speculation and gold smuggling. Official statements confirmed that the committee is preparing strict regulatory directives for higher authorities aimed at curbing financial violations and safeguarding national economic stability.

However, economic analyst Omar Abshar countered the government narrative, explaining that “Any rise in the currency is linked to the entry of companies and government entities to buy foreign currency for the purpose of importing, and the government is unable to deter them because they are influential institutions.” Abshar noted that military authorities have failed to control the runaway exchange rate, citing the buying and selling of gold as one of the causal factors affecting exchange rates detrimentally.

4) Landmines and insecurity block displaced from returning to North Kordofan

Landmines, unexploded war remnants, and deep security fears are preventing tens of thousands of displaced Sudanese from returning to North Kordofan, even after the Sudanese army recaptured several key areas late last month.

Humanitarian workers in the region report that returning home remains an unviable option for the nearly 100,000 displaced people currently sheltering in El Obeid. While the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) regained control of five localities in late July, recent attacks by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) west of Bara indicate that the frontlines remain fluid and volatile.

“All indicators on the ground confirm that returning is no longer an option for civilians,” said Mohammed Abdel Rahman, a local aid worker. Fresh RSF mobilizations have sparked widespread fears that the paramilitary group could launch counter-offensives to retake lost territory.

For the families crammed into El Obeid’s makeshift camps—many of whom fled brutal attacks and lost relatives—daily survival remains a struggle marked by severe shortages of drinking water. Beyond active fighting, safety risks inside recaptured towns like Bara and Jabra Al-Sheikh are worsening. Volunteer worker Nadine Ahmed noted that slowness in clearing hazardous war debris, combined with reports of planted landmines and converted weapons depots, continues to stall local government rehabilitation efforts.

With the military balance swinging unpredictably across North Kordofan, aid agencies stress that displaced residents cannot make the decision to return until permanent security and systematic mine clearance are guaranteed.

5) Fresh Fighting in South Kordofan displaces over 300 people

Fierce clashes between the Sudanese army and the “Tasis” Coaliltion, comprising of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and Sudan People’s Liberation Army-North (SPLA-N) a allied rebel-paramilitary force in South Kordofan have displaced over 300 families into neighboring North Kordofan. Meanwhile, a separate drone strike in the city of Dilling left three civilians dead and 14 injured.

The coalition launched coordinated attacks in eastern South Kordofan, capturing theJabal al-Damra area west of Al-Abbasiya and seizing military vehicles and heavy weapons in the process. However, local sources confirmed the Sudanese army successfully repelled a follow-up assault on nearby Tebessa. The clashes subsequently spread along the border between North and South Kordofan, breaking a long period of relative calm in the area.

The sudden escalation has triggered a rapid humanitarian crisis. More than 300 fleeing families arrived in North Kordofan’s Um Rawaba locality and the Abu Kershola administrative unit, where displaced residents are sheltering in local schools amid heavy rains and severe lack of supplies.

Simultaneously, a drone attack targeted three civilian locations inside Dilling, killing three people and injuring 14 others, including women and children. The strikes also destroyed several commercial trucks and their goods, further choking supply lines in the region.

6) At least 16 Sudanese dead in Egyptian custody, rights group reports

Sixteen Sudanese nationals are among 24 refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants who died in Egyptian custody or during deportation procedures between December 2025 and July 2026, according to a report released by the Refugee Platform in Egypt (RPE).

The semi-annual report, titled “Death Under Custody,” drew from police files, forensic documents, medical reports, and witness testimonies. It revealed that 18 of the 24 deceased—75 percent—were registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) or held international protection documents.

While RPE noted that the figures alone do not establish a discriminatory pattern or direct causation, the organisation stressed that the data raises urgent questions about the practical recognition of UNHCR safeguards during administrative sweeps and deportations.

The report detailed severe systemic deficiencies across detention facilities, including delayed or inadequate medical care, overcrowding, poor ventilation, and environments unsuited for health emergencies. The documented deaths involved children, women, the elderly, and individuals with chronic illnesses, with several cases featuring testimonies of ill-treatment, torture, or undisclosed causes of death.

Multiple deaths were concentrated in specific facilities, including four cases at the Ain Shams police station and three at the Third Nasr City police station in Cairo. RPE stated that these clusters signal a critical need for immediate, independent oversight of detention conditions and death records.

Following an official memorandum submitted by RPE in July, Egypt’s National Council for Human Rights confirmed in August that it had contacted the Public Prosecution regarding the claims. However, findings from official investigations remain unavailable.

7) Escalating Blue Nile clashes force 20,000 to flee as army reinforces frontlines

Escalating clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan’s Blue Nile region have displaced nearly 20,000 civilians, triggering a fresh humanitarian crisis toward the regional capital of Damazin.

According to the Geisan Emergency Room, thousands of families—including many previously displaced residents living in shelters—fled their homes following heavy fighting in Bakuri and Geisan province. Displaced civilians are arriving in Damazin as well as the Shira, Qami, and Al-Hilla Al-Jadeeda areas within Wad Al-Mahi province.

The surge in displacement follows an RSF offensive in August that captured Geisan and Kurmuk. In response to recent RSF assaults on Bakuri, the SAF’s 4th Infantry Division deployed elite reinforcements to establish a strategic military defense. The deployment aims to halt any RSF push toward Damazin, located roughly 190 kilometers from the fighting.

The conflict is also drawing in regional border dynamics. Blue Nile researcher Ahmed Adam noted that RSF forces have mobilized across neighboring Ethiopian territory to launch attacks in Geisan and Kurmuk. Tensions escalated further following reports of drone warfare in the region, including an incident where government officials stated the SAF intercepted an RSF drone originating from Ethiopian airspace.

8) Amri residents launch sit-in at Nile poultry company over profit-sharing dispute

Displaced residents of northern Sudan’s Amri region have mounted a 72-hour peaceful sit-in at the headquarters of the Nile Poultry Company, demanding a fair share of corporate profits and immediate compensation for environmental and health impacts.

The demonstration follows widespread local outrage over new ministerial decisions regarding the ownership, asset distribution, and profit allocation of the facility. Established as a community-support project linked to the construction of the Merowe Dam, the company operates on lands long held by the local population. Protesters argue that authorities have systematically excluded the community from benefiting from the project, despite residents bearing the brunt of its operational health and environmental consequences.

Demonstrators are calling for an immediate overhaul of the company’s ownership structure, demanding that the majority of profits be redirected to rehabilitate the drought-stricken Amri Agricultural Project. Speaking to Ayin, local resident Mohammed Al-Awad confirmed the demonstration began Sunday under strict self-imposed guidelines: protesters are strictly avoiding company offices, maintaining peaceful decorum, and allowing daily production activities to proceed uninterrupted.

Al-Awad warned that community members are keeping all options open should corporate and state officials fail to address their grievances before the 72-hour deadline expires.

Neither government representatives nor Nile Poultry Company management have issued an official response to the protest. The company has previously limited its public statements to affirming its general contribution to regional food security and community partnerships.

9) Eight civilians killed in targeted drone strike

Eight civilians were killed and dozens injured last Thursday when a drone targeted a gathering of people and subsequent rescue efforts in the Um Shuru area of North Kordofan State.

According to local sources and the legal advocacy group Emergency Lawyers, the initial strike destroyed several civilian vehicles. The drone then returned to attack those attempting to evacuate the wounded. Emergency Lawyers condemned the double-tap strike as a breach of international humanitarian law and a potential war crime, noting that no military forces or armed clashes were present in the area at the time.

The incident highlights an escalating reliance on drone strikes in the Kordofan region, where repeated attacks on villages, markets, and vehicles, combined with ongoing blockades and collapsing health services, have severely compounded human suffering.

Unmanned aerial vehicles have become the primary driver of civilian fatalities in Sudan’s conflict. According to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, drone strikes accounted for at least 880 civilian deaths between January and April of last year—roughly 80% of all war-related civilian casualties during that period. The escalating violence prompted a UN Security Council session on August 24, where the United States introduced a draft resolution to expand the existing Darfur arms embargo across all of Sudan to restrict the flow of drones and related technologies.