KAUDA – A joint initiative led by the New Sudan Islamic Council and the Nuba Mountains Council of Churches has called for an end to fighting and renewed efforts to strengthen peaceful coexistence in the Nuba Mountains, following the release of a number of detainees from Kodi Prison.
Omar Reda, head of the New Sudan Islamic Council and one of the initiative’s organizers, said the detainees were released after mediation and coordination with the military leadership in the Southern Sector. He praised the leadership’s response to the initiative and its cooperation in facilitating the release.
Reda urged leaders of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) and all parties involved in the conflict to return to dialogue and halt the internal fighting, saying the initiative seeks to repair social divisions and strengthen peace among the region’s communities.
He said the initiative draws on the legacy of historic SPLM leaders and aims to move beyond internal disputes, stressing that areas under the movement’s control should become a foundation for peace rather than a new arena for conflict.
The initiative includes a broader reconciliation program that has been presented to relevant leaders, while the humanitarian organization Samaritan is providing logistical support and funding for transportation and related activities, according to Reda.
He also called on the released detainees to carry a message of peace back to their communities and support local reconciliation efforts, particularly between the Otoro and Tira communities, to help end tribal tensions and reintegrate those affected by the violence.
The initiative comes as areas controlled by SPLM-N under Abdelaziz al-Hilu have experienced growing instability since March 2026, when local disputes over land ownership and administrative boundaries escalated into armed confrontations and internal divisions within the movement’s military wing.
The violence later spread to Kauda, Heiban and surrounding areas, resulting in casualties and civilian displacement. SPLM-N has announced an internal investigation into the clashes, while repeatedly stating that its actions target individuals accused of mutiny rather than any tribal community, amid growing concerns over hate speech and rising communal tensions.
