West Kordofan

West Kordofan غرب كردفان Ġarb Kurdufān
State
Seal
Location in Sudan.
Coordinates: 12°0′N 28°9′E
Country	Sudan
Region	Nuba Mountains
Capital	Al-Fulah
Government
• Governor	Al-Taj Al-Tijani
Area
• Total	111,373 km2 (43,001 sq mi)
Population  (2006)
• Total	1,320,405
Time zone	UTC+2 (CAT)

West Kordofan (Arabic: غرب كردفان; Ġarb Kurdufān) is one of the 18 wilayat or provinces of Sudan. In 2006 it had an area of 111,373 km² and an estimated population of approximately 1,320,405. Al-Fulah is the capital of the state.

In August 2005, West Kordofan State was abolished and its territory divided between North and South Kordofan States, in implementation of the Protocol between the Government of Sudan (GOS) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) on the resolution of conflict in Southern Kordofan/Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile States signed at Naivasha, Kenya, 26 May 2004. Section 2.1 of the protocol states that "The boundaries of Southern Kordofan/Nuba Mountains State shall be the same boundaries of former Southern Kordofan Province when Greater Kordofan was sub-divided into two provinces." The protocol forms part of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement. Al Fulah presently has the status of second capital of South Kordofan State, and sessions of the state Legislative Council are to alternate between Al Fulah and Kaduqli. The state was reestablished in July 2013.

Role in the Third Sudanese civil war

In the new civil war in Sudan, the RSF has gained large parts of the state. On 25 April 2023, the RSF took control of Wad Banda. Despite RSF control of Wad Banda, West Kordofan had not been in conflict until August. On 14 August 2023, the RSF attacked the town of El-Khoi, resulting in the injuries of 3 civilians, seizing two polices vehicles, one ambulance, and one civilian vehicle. By the 16th, the RSF waged an offensive on the capital of the state, El-Fulah, against the Sudanese army.. By the end of 2023, RSF gained areas in the state. In the beginning of 2024, the RSF laid siege to Babanusa. This comes in response to SAF airstrikes near the city.. By the end of 2024, the RSF had gained a heavy upper hand in the state by taking control of the capital and main roads with all the major localities, villages, towns, and cities, under its control. The RSF captured the capital, El-Fulah, after the Sudanese army withdrew to Babanusa. The SAF was able to keep control of its positions in En-Nahud but is surrounded. The Sudanese army made progress as well lifting the siege of Babanusa. Since June 2024, the conflict in West Kordofan has been unreported and seems no sides are waging military campaigns against the other in the state.

Districts

1. Lagawa District
2. As Salam District
3. Abyei District Area with "Special Administrative Status", considered part of both South Kordofan and Northern Bahr el Ghazal, under Protocol on the resolution of the Abyei conflict:
4. Wad Banda
5. El Nehoud
6. Abu Zabad
7. Ghubaysh
8. Babanusa
9. Abyei-Muglad
10. Keilak
11. Al Sunut

External links

• "Darfur - Kordofan Region of Sudan" map, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), 10 April 2002