Sudanese civil war (2023–present)

The Sudanese civil war that erupted on April 15, 2023, is the culmination of decades of political instability and a recent power struggle within the military junta that seized control in the October 2021 coup. The conflict pits the internationally recognized Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, against the formidable paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), commanded by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as Hemedti.

The RSF, which evolved from the notorious Janjaweed militia, has a history of human rights abuses, particularly in the Darfur region. Tensions escalated over the proposed integration of the RSF into the SAF, a key point of contention following the 2021 coup, as both factions vied for dominance and control over state resources and security apparatus. This internal power struggle fractured the military government, transforming a fragile political arrangement into open warfare.

The war's epicenter was initially the capital, Khartoum, where the 'Battle of Khartoum' marked the violent beginning of the conflict. The urban landscape became a theater of intense street fighting, with infrastructure severely damaged and civilian life paralyzed. The conflict's reach extended deeply into the Darfur region, a historical flashpoint for violence.

Here, the war has taken on a particularly brutal character, with widespread reports of massacres targeting the Masalit ethnic group. These atrocities have been described by international bodies as ethnic cleansing and, by January 2025, the United States officially determined that the RSF and allied militias committed genocide. The scale of violence and displacement in Darfur echoes the horrors of past conflicts, creating immense suffering.

Sudan is currently facing what many describe as the world's worst humanitarian crisis. The war has decimated essential services and access to basic necessities. According to UN estimates, nearly 25 million people, over half the population, are in urgent need of assistance, facing extreme hunger.

UNICEF projects that around 770,000 children under five will suffer from severe acute malnutrition in 2025, with one report tragically claiming that malnutrition has already caused approximately 522,000 child deaths. The overall death toll, encompassing violence, starvation, and disease, is staggering, with thousands more missing or killed in targeted massacres. At least 61,000 people have died in Khartoum State alone, with 26,000 directly from violence.

The displacement is immense: as of February 2025, over 8.8 million were internally displaced, and more than 3.5 million had fled the country as refugees. Widespread sexual violence against refugees and during looting further compounds the suffering.

The primary architects of this conflict are General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the de facto leader of Sudan and commander of the SAF, and General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), the commander of the RSF. Their personal ambitions and the rivalry between their forces are central to the war's perpetuation. Beyond these two main figures, the conflict has seen a complex web of shifting alliances.

Several smaller armed groups have been drawn into the fighting. The SPLM–North (al-Hilu faction) has attacked SAF positions in the south, while the Tamazuj movement has aligned with the RSF. Conversely, factions of the Sudan Liberation Movement and the Justice and Equality Movement have offered support to the SAF.

This fragmentation of loyalties complicates any prospects for a unified peace process.

International involvement has been multifaceted, ranging from diplomatic mediation to arms shipments from various countries. Despite numerous international efforts, including the May 2023 Jeddah Declaration, a lasting ceasefire has remained elusive. The war has triggered a massive humanitarian crisis, leading to widespread hospital closures, disease outbreaks, and the near-collapse of education and infrastructure.

Calls for increased aid, legal protections for humanitarian workers, and an end to arms supplies, particularly to the RSF, have been vocal. In response to the ongoing abuses and destabilizing activities, the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and the European Union have imposed sanctions on individuals, companies, and entities linked to both the SAF and RSF. The fall of El Fasher in October 2025, the SAF's last stronghold in Darfur, signifies a significant territorial shift, underscoring the war's protracted and devastating nature.