Liberated Areas (Sudan)
Liberated Areas المناطق المحررة | |
|---|---|
| 2021–present | |
Flag[1] | |
| Anthem: Anthem of the Liberated Areas[1] | |
The Liberated Areas in dark red on the 26 January 2026. | |
| Status | Quasi-state |
| Capital | Torung Tonga[2] 12°55′37″N 24°20′13″E / 12.927°N 24.337°E |
| Largest city | Various (changed over time) |
| Official languages | Arabic |
| Religion | Sunni Islam |
| Government | Civil administration |
| Leader | |
• Since 2021 | Abdul Wahid al-Nur |
| Force commander of the Sudan Liberation Movement (al-Nur)[a] | |
• Since 2021 | Abdelgadir Abdelrahman Ibrahim |
| Spokeperson | |
• Unknown | Mohamed Abdel Rahman al-Nayer |
| Establishment | Pre-Sudanese civil war (2023-present) |
| History | |
| March 2021[2][3] | |
| Population | |
• Estimate | 300,000 people as of 2021 in the Marrah Mountains[2] 379,000 people as of 2025 in Tawila[4] |
| Currency | Sudanese pound |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (CAT) UTC+02:00 (CAT) |
"Liberated Areas" (Arabic: المناطق المحررة, romanized: al-Manāṭiq al-Muḥarrira) is the name given to those areas under the effective control of the Sudanese rebel group SLA al-Nur, also known as SLA-AW.[b] The territory is governed by a civil administration and has remained neutral throughout the Sudanese civil war (2023–present).[1]
History
The SLM (al-Nur) was founded in 2006 and is led by Abdul Wahid al Nur.[10] Since its founding, the group has fought in many Sudanese conflicts such as the War in Darfur, the Heglig Crisis, and the South Sudanese Civil War.
In August 2025, the Tarasin landslide affected areas under the control of the SLM (al-Nur).[11][12][13]
In October, the Sudan Liberation Army Movement (al-Nur) claimed that they had received a number of displaced people in areas under their control.[9]
In January 2026, they officially adopted a flag and an anthem, replacing Sudanese symbolism with their own ideological symbols.[1]
Territorial control
Controlled territories include the Marrah Mountains (including Torontonga) since 2021, Nertiti, Deribat (captured in December 2023), and Tawila (captured on 23 September 2023).[2][3][8] Other controlled areas include Kin Taura, Golo, Guldo, Rokero, and Nyertete.[9]
See also
Notes
References
- ^ a b c d "SLM-AW adopts own flag and anthem in controlled areas". Sudan Tribune. 2026-01-04. Retrieved 2026-01-12.
- ^ a b c d e f "The New Humanitarian | In Darfur's rebel-held mountains, the war is far from over". www.thenewhumanitarian.org. April 21, 2021.
- ^ a b c d "The New Humanitarian | What Sudan's new peace deal means for Darfur". www.thenewhumanitarian.org. April 6, 2021.
- ^ "Sudan: Surge in Darfur displacement pushes Tawila into full-scale crisis, cholera spreading". NRC. 11 July 2025.
- ^ "Sudan: The Last Rebels of Darfur - ARTE Reportage - Watch the full documentary | ARTE". Archived from the original on 2021-07-25. Retrieved 2025-12-06.
- ^ "SLM-Nur expands control to several areas in Darfur to protect civilians: official - Sudan Tribune". sudantribune.com.
- ^ "SLM-Abdel Wahid forces seize RSF camp in South Darfur - Sudan Tribune". sudantribune.com.
- ^ a b "SLM-Nur expands control to several areas in Darfur to protect civilians: official". Sudan Tribune. 24 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- ^ a b c "Sudan Liberation Army Movement to Al-Arabiya: We have received a number of displaced people in the areas under our control North Darfur, Sudan - Sudan latest news in English on live map - South Sudan and Sudan News in English - sudan.liveuamap.com".
- ^ "No dialogue, no commitment - The perils of deadline diplomacy for Darfur" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-06-25.
- ^ "Plea for help after landslide wipes out Sudan village, killing 1,000". Reuters. 2025-09-03.
- ^ "Landslide wipes out entire village in Central Darfur's Jebel Marra - Sudan Tribune". September 2, 2025.
- ^ "'Massive' Sudan landslide kills more than 1,000 in Darfur, rebel group says". France 24. September 2, 2025.