The conflict between Sudan and South Sudan has affected the lives of many people in the region.
The town of Talody in South Kordofan has been the scene for some of the fiercest battles between the Sudanese army and rebel fighters.
The Sudanese government says it now controls the town, but rebels are accusing the Sudanese military of deliberately marginalising the Nuba people who live in the area, by destroying their farms and crops.
In this exclusive report Al Jazeera's Mohammed Vall looks at why Talody is such an important asset.