| South Kordofan | |
| Native Name: | جنوب كردفان |
| Other Name: | Ǧanūb Kurdufān |
| Settlement Type: | State |
| Mapsize: | 300px |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: |  Sudan |
| Subdivision Type1: | Region |
| Subdivision Name1: | Nuba Mountains |
| Subdivision Type2: | No. of counties |
| Seat Type: | Capital |
| Seat: | Kaduqli |
| Leader Title: | Governor |
| Leader Name: | Adam Al-Faki Mohamed al-Tayeb |
| Area Total Km2: | 79470 |
| Population As Of: | 2018 |
| Population Total: | 2,107,623[1] |
| Timezone: | CAT |
| Utc Offset: | +2 |
| Coordinates: | 11.1333°N 82°W |
| Blank Name Sec2: | HDI (2017) |
| Blank Info Sec2: | 0.431[2] |
South Kordofan (Arabic: جنوب كردفان ) is one of the 18 wilayat or states of Sudan. It has an area of 158,355 km2[3] and an estimated population of approximately 2,107,623 people (2018 est).[4] Kaduqli is the capital of the state. It is centered on the Nuba Mountains. At one time it was supposed that South Kordofan was the only state in (North) Sudan suitable for producing oil, but oil has also been discovered in neighboring White Nile State in larger quantities.[5]
Under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, residents of South Kordofan were to hold popular consultations in 2011 to determine the constitutional future of the state. However, South Kordofan governor Ahmed Haroun suspended the process and violence followed.[6] Haroun had previously been charged with war crimes against civilians and crime against humanity by the International Criminal Court.
Although South Kordofan is part of Sudan, it is home to many pro-South Sudan communities, especially in the Nuba Mountains, some of whom fought alongside southern rebels during the long civil war.[7]
In 2009 and 2010, a series of conflicts between rival nomadic tribes in South Kordofan caused a large number of casualties and displaced thousands.
On June 6, 2011 armed conflict broke out between the forces of Northern and Southern Sudan, ahead of the scheduled independence of the South on July 9. This followed an agreement for both sides to withdraw from Abyei.[8] [9] On June 20, the parties agreed to demilitarize the contested area of Abyei where Ethiopian peacekeepers were deployed.[10] Abyei is currently controlled by the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei.[11]