Sudan Civil War: RSF vs SAF Conflict Tracker

Overview

The Sudan civil war began on April 15, 2023, when fighting erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Khartoum and other major cities. The conflict stems from a power struggle between two military leaders who had jointly orchestrated the October 2021 coup that derailed Sudan's democratic transition following the 2019 revolution that ousted longtime leader Omar al-Bashir.

General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, chairman of the Sovereignty Council and de facto head of state, commands the SAF, while General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, leads the RSF. Tensions had been building for months over the proposed integration of RSF forces into the regular military as part of a framework agreement to restore civilian government. Disagreements over the timeline and command structure of this integration ultimately triggered open warfare.

The conflict rapidly spread beyond Khartoum to the Darfur region, Kordofan, and other parts of the country, reigniting ethnic violence and creating what the United Nations has called the world's largest displacement crisis. This page tracks the ongoing military situation, humanitarian impact, and international response to the Sudan civil war.

Current Situation

The conflict has evolved from an initial urban battle for Khartoum into a broader nationwide war. The RSF seized control of much of the capital early in the fighting, including key government buildings and residential neighborhoods, while the SAF retained control of military bases and the presidential palace. The SAF has relied heavily on air power, conducting airstrikes against RSF positions in populated areas.

In Darfur, the RSF and allied Arab militias have carried out large-scale attacks on cities including El Geneina, Nyala, and El Fasher. The violence in West Darfur has been characterized by ethnically targeted killings of the Masalit and other non-Arab communities, drawing comparisons to the Darfur genocide of the early 2000s. El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur and the last major city in Darfur not under RSF control, has been under siege.

Both sides have been accused of committing war crimes and violations of international humanitarian law. The SAF has conducted indiscriminate aerial bombardment of civilian areas, while the RSF has been implicated in mass killings, sexual violence, and looting on a systematic scale. Multiple ceasefire attempts brokered by the United States, Saudi Arabia, and the African Union have collapsed within hours or days.

Humanitarian Crisis

The Sudan civil war has produced one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes in modern history. Over 10 million people have been displaced, with millions fleeing to neighboring countries including Chad, Egypt, South Sudan, and Ethiopia. The scale of displacement exceeds any other active conflict globally, surpassing even the Ukraine war in total numbers of displaced persons.

Famine conditions have been declared in parts of Sudan, particularly in areas where fighting has disrupted agriculture and humanitarian access. The war has destroyed health infrastructure, with the majority of hospitals in conflict zones rendered non-functional. Disease outbreaks including cholera and measles have spread through overcrowded displacement camps with limited access to clean water and medical care.

Humanitarian organizations face severe access constraints, with both warring parties obstructing aid delivery. The RSF has looted humanitarian warehouses and supplies, while the SAF has imposed bureaucratic restrictions on cross-border aid operations. The international response has been critically underfunded, with appeals receiving a fraction of the resources needed to address the scale of the crisis.

Key Players

• SAF (Sudanese Armed Forces): Led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the national military controls air assets, heavy weapons, and maintains international recognition as Sudan's legitimate government. The SAF has received support from Egypt, which shares concerns about regional instability and RSF territorial gains.
• RSF (Rapid Support Forces): Led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), the RSF evolved from the Janjaweed militias that carried out atrocities in Darfur during the 2000s. The RSF has received external support including weapons from the United Arab Emirates, funneled through Chad and other intermediaries.
• United Arab Emirates: Widely reported to be providing weapons, drones, and financial support to the RSF through supply routes across the Sahel, despite international arms embargo provisions. The UAE's involvement has significantly escalated the conflict.
• Egypt: Supports the SAF and views the conflict through the lens of Nile water security, border stability, and concerns about the RSF's expansion. Egypt hosts hundreds of thousands of Sudanese refugees.
• Civilian Resistance Committees: Grassroots pro-democracy networks that organized the 2019 revolution continue to operate, providing mutual aid and documenting atrocities, while calling for an end to military rule entirely.

International Response

The international community's response to the Sudan crisis has been widely criticized as inadequate. The United States and Saudi Arabia co-hosted negotiations in Jeddah that produced several ceasefire declarations, none of which held for more than a few days. The African Union and regional body IGAD have attempted mediation but have been hampered by competing member state interests and lack of influence over the warring parties.

The United Nations Security Council has struggled to take meaningful action, with divisions among permanent members limiting the scope of resolutions. Arms embargo enforcement has been virtually nonexistent, with weapons flowing to both sides from external backers. The International Criminal Court has an existing mandate to investigate crimes in Darfur, and new referrals related to the current conflict are being pursued.

Sanctions have been imposed on individual commanders and entities by the United States, European Union, and United Kingdom, but these measures have had limited practical impact on the conduct of the war. Calls for a full arms embargo and targeted sanctions against external suppliers have gained momentum but face political obstacles at the Security Council level.

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