The capital of South Darfur state, Nyala is west Sudan’s largest town, It is the base for UN-African Union peacekeepers and NGOs working in Darfur. It also plays host to the largest population of Darfurian Internally Displaced People (IDPs), with numbers reaching almost 350,000. Even before the outbreak of the current crisis, security in Nyala was tight and all visitors were required to register with the police on arrival.

Nyala is a low, sprawling town set back Wadi Nyala. Is has a large market and best transport connections in the region. Three private airlines connect Nyala to Khartoum with daily flights: Mid Airlines, Marsland and Sun Air. Areturn ticket costs, on average, SDG850. Road transport links Nyala to El Fasher, Zalingei, El Geneina and east to Babanusa and the tarmac road at El Obeid. There is a rail link to El Obeid, but it is for goods only.