New Sudan (territory)
Territory under the control of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement–North
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
New Sudan (Arabic: السودان الجديد, romanized: al-Sūdān al-Jadīd) refers to the territory in Sudan under the effective control of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement–North (Al-Hilu). In late 2025, the SPLM-N (Al-Hilu) joined the Government of Peace and Unity, however New Sudan still exists.[7][8][9][10]
New Sudan | |
|---|---|
| 2011–present[a] | |
Flag | |
 Territories held in blue in 2011 before New Sudan was used. | |
| Capital | Kauda, Sudan |
| Leader | |
• 2011–2017 | Malik Agar |
• 2017–present | Abdelaziz al-Hilu |
| Chief of Staff[3] | |
• 2023–present | Izzat Koko Angelo[4] |
| Establishment | Sudanese conflict in South Kordofan and Blue Nile |
| History | |
• Establishment | 2011[5] |
| Population | |
• 2024 estimate |
|
.svg)
Territorial control
The territory has been controlled by the SPLM-N (al-Hilu) since 2011.[11]
In July 2023, the SPLM-N (al-Hilu) seized several army garrisons and an oil field in South Kordofan[12] and blocked the road leading from Karkal to Kadugli. It also launched another attack in Kurmuk.[13]
In June 2024, Nicholas Casey of The New York Times was allowed in the Nuba Mountains stronghold of the SPLM-N (al-Hilu) led by Abdel Aziz al-Hilu. Casey reported that civil war had distracted the SAF from attacking the SPLM-N (al-Hilu) and allowed the SPLM-N (al-Hilu) to go on the offensive, capturing territory "at a steady pace". It calls the territory it controls "New Sudan", 2024 was the first time it used the term for the territories it controls. Its capital is Kauda, a farming town.[14] At least 3.9 million people live in the territory under the control of the SPLM-N.[15]
In February 2025, there were reports about a famine in the territory controlled by the SPLM-N (al-Hilu).[16]
In December 2025, the SPLM–N (al-Hilu) claimed to have retaken the town of Qardoud Nama in South Kordofan from the SAF.[17] The SAF retook the town of Mabsouta from the SPLM–N (al-Hilu), which had occupied the area since 2011.[18]
On the 3 February of 2026 both the RSF and SPLM-N (al-Hilu) seized the towns of Deim Mansour, Bashir Nuqu and Khor al-Budi near Kurmuk in Blue Nile state.[19] In the same month, the SPLM-N (Toka), another faction of the SPLM, was revealed to be active in areas held by both the RSF and the SPLM-N (Al-Hilu).[20]
Government
In 2013, the SPLM-N (al-Hilu) established a civil authority in areas under its control.[21] As of 2017, Abdelaziz al-Hilu headed the SPLM-N (al-Hilu) faction,[22] which opposed the Sudanese Armed Forces and, as a member of the Sudan Founding Alliance, supported the Rapid Support Forces' attempt to establish a parallel Government of Peace and Unity.[23] Journalist Nicholas Casey described the faction as one of the few rebel groups claiming to advocate for a Western-style democracy, noting that it has a constitution and calls for a secular state in Sudan.[24] The SPLM-N (al-Hilu) also provides public services in areas under its control, including issuing driver's licenses and birth certificates, operating a court system staffed by volunteer judges that handles cases ranging from dowry disputes to murder, and maintaining schools that teach in English.[24]
Similar territory with the name New Sudan
In 1999, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) also referred to its territory[25][26] as New Sudan, with its territory in what is now South Sudan.[27] In 2006, the term New Sudan still was used for the territory of the SPLM.[28]
Notes
- Until 2024 the term New Sudan was not used for the territories under the control of the SPLM-N (Al-Hilu).