War in Sudan (2023–present)

War in Sudan (2023–present)
Conflict	War in Sudan (2023–present)
Date	15 April 2023 – present
Place	Sudan
Result	Ongoing
Combatant1	Sudanese Armed Forces, Supported by:, Egypt, Iran
Combatant2	Rapid Support Forces, Supported by:, United Arab Emirates, Chad, Wagner Group
Commander1	Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Yasser al-Atta
Commander2	Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo

War in Sudan (2023–present). An ongoing armed conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) under Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. The war erupted in the capital Khartoum and quickly spread across regions including Darfur, Kordofan, and Al Jazirah, triggering a severe humanitarian catastrophe. The fighting stems from a protracted power struggle following the 2021 coup and failed plans to integrate the RSF into the regular military.

Background

Tensions between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces escalated after the 2019 Sudanese Revolution toppled longtime dictator Omar al-Bashir. The uneasy alliance between General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti) during the Transitional Military Council collapsed following the 2021 Sudanese coup d'état. Disagreements over the Framework Political Agreement and the timeline for integrating the RSF into the SAF, as outlined in the Juba Peace Agreement, became irreconcilable. The immediate trigger was a dispute over RSF troop deployments near Meroë and critical sites in Khartoum.

Timeline of major events

Intense fighting began on 15 April 2023 with simultaneous RSF attacks on Khartoum International Airport, the Republican Palace, and SAF bases in Omdurman. Key early battles included the Battle of the Army Headquarters and fighting around the Khalifa House. The RSF quickly seized control of Nyala and El Geneina in Darfur. By late 2023, the conflict expanded into Al Jazirah State, with the RSF capturing Wad Madani in December. Major urban warfare has devastated Khartoum, Bahri, and Omdurman, collectively known as the Triple Capital.

Belligerents and foreign involvement

The primary belligerents are the national military, the Sudanese Armed Forces, aligned with remnants of the National Congress Party, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which evolved from the Janjaweed militias of the War in Darfur. The RSF receives substantial material support from the United Arab Emirates, often via Chad, and has utilized fighters from the Wagner Group. The SAF is backed by Egypt and has recently received military drones from Iran. Neighboring states like South Sudan, Ethiopia, and the Central African Republic have been drawn into the conflict's spillover effects.

Humanitarian impact and war crimes

The war has created one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, with the United Nations reporting thousands of deaths and over 8 million people displaced, many to Egypt and Chad. The World Food Programme warns of imminent famine. In Darfur, the RSF and allied Arab militias have been accused of ethnic cleansing against the Masalit people in El Geneina, recalling the atrocities of the Darfur genocide. Both sides have been implicated in attacks on civilians, sexual violence, and the destruction of infrastructure, with investigations launched by the International Criminal Court.

Peace efforts and international response

Multiple mediation attempts have failed, including those led by the United States, Saudi Arabia (through the Jeddah talks), the African Union, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). The United Nations Security Council has passed resolutions calling for ceasefires and humanitarian access, but with limited effect. Regional bodies like the Arab League have been divided in their response. The Troika on Sudan (U.S., UK, Norway) and the European Union have imposed sanctions on key figures from both warring factions.

Aftermath and political situation

The conflict has effectively shattered the state's economy and fragmented sovereign authority, with the RSF controlling most of Darfur and western Sudan while the SAF holds the east and parts of the north. The pre-war civilian coalition, the Forces of Freedom and Change, remains sidelined. Long-term scenarios range from a negotiated settlement that restores a transitional government to the permanent partition of the country, risking a prolonged state failure that destabilizes the entire Horn of Africa region.

Category:Wars involving Sudan Category:2020s conflicts Category:2023 in Sudan