Information related to the recent fighting
Background information
The following reports and articles explain the background of the recent fighting:
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Brief chronology of political developments since 2018
Sudan's years of political strife (Media Report, English)
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Background article on the fighting between the army and the Rapid Support Forces
Sudan fighting: The military rivalry behind the clashes in Khartoum (Media Report, English)
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Brief background article on the power struggle
Factbox: The struggle for power in Sudan (Media Report, English)
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Brief background article on the Rapid Support Forces
Factbox: Who are Sudan's Rapid Support Forces? (Media Report, English)
The most recent documents on the issue
These are the most recent documents from a search for terms related to the fighting: (You can find more, and customise your search under this search link.)
Considered synonyms: al, awami, awami, bal, bangladesh, bengalese, burhan, league, lega, liga, people's, popolare, popolare, rapid support forces
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Annual report on political rights and civil liberties in 2025
Freedom in the World 2026 - Sudan (Periodical Report, English)
- In April 2023, hostilities broke out between the regular Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group originally formed by al-Bashir, and the fighting quickly spread across the country. […] . == []Key Developments in 2025 == * The conflict between the SAF, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF, led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, better known as Hemedti, continued throughout the year, killing more than 17,000 people between January and early December. […] That November, al-Burhan reconstituted the Sovereign Council with himself as chair; Hamdok was subsequently reinstated as prime minister after signing an agreement with al-Burhan that provided for the release of political detainees, a new technocratic government, and the restructuring of the Empowerment Removal Committee (ERC). […] In April, disputes between al-Burhan and RSF leader Hemedti over the integration of the RSF into the SAF sparked armed clashes in Khartoum as the two commanders vied for control. The fighting escalated into the broader civil conflict that continued throughout 2025. In May 2025, al-Burhan appointed legal expert Kamil Idris to serve as Sudan’s first prime minister since Hamdok’s resignation. […] Following the October 2021 coup, al-Burhan dissolved all trade unions and professional associations. Multiple union and association leaders were detained and assaulted during the anticoup protests that continued into 2023.
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Article on new coalition by the UK, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands and Norway to prevent atrocities and promote justice in Sudan
New Sudan Atrocity Prevention Coalition Needs to Act Fast (Appeal or News Release, English)
- The announcement—by the countries that make up Sudan Core Group at the Human Rights’ Council—follows the Rapid Support Forces’ capture of El Fasher in North Darfur, and thefindings [https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/thematic-reports/ahrc6177-sudan-hallmarks-genocide-el-fasher-report-independent] by the UN that the Rapid Support Forces unleashed attacks that bore the hallmark of genocidal violence […] In recent months, both the Rapid Support Forces and the opposing Sudanese Armed Forces have madeextensive use of drones [https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/02/1166988], notably in the Kordofan region, reportedly targeting aidconvoys [https://www.arabnews.jp/en/middle-east/article_163677/], damaging civilian infrastructure and killing and injuring civilians.
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Article on new coalition by the UK, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands and Norway to prevent atrocities and promote justice in Sudan
Neue Koalition zur Prävention von Gräueltaten im Sudan muss schnell handeln (Appeal or News Release, German)
- Die Ankündigung der Länder, die die Sudan Core Group im Menschenrechtsrat bilden, erfolgte nach der Erobung von El Fasher in Nord-Darfur durch die Rapid Support Forces und denErgebnissen [https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/thematic-reports/ahrc6177-sudan-hallmarks-genocide-el-fasher-report-independent] der Vereinten Nationen, wonach die Rapid Support Forces Angriffe durchgeführt haben, die die […] In den vergangenen Monaten haben sowohl die Rapid Support Forces als auch die ihnen gegenüberstehenden sudanesischen Streitkräftein großem Umfang Drohnen [https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/02/1166988] eingesetzt, insbesondere in der Region Kordofan, wo sie Berichten zufolgeHilfskonvois [https://www.arabnews.jp/en/middle-east/article_163677/] angriffen, zivile Infrastruktur beschädigten und Zivilist
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Article on the causes of the conflict, the actors involved and the prospects for peace
The devastating conflict where both sides have reasons to keep fighting (Media Report, English)
- Almost a year ago I saw Khartoum for myself - driving carefully around unexploded munitions on the tarmac, touring the wrecked passenger halls in the airport's terminal, just days after Sudan's army recaptured it from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). […] Bashir had empowered Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as Hemedti, to run the RSF as a praetorian guard to protect him against possible challenges from within the army. Following Bashir's departure, tensions between Hemedti and the army chief Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan erupted into wider violence. […] Hemedti, a camel trader turned successful businessman, accrued much wealth from his position as head of a powerful paramilitary force. But as someone from the western Darfur region, he positioned himself as the champion of the disgruntled and of deprived areas beyond the capital.
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Article on the causes of the conflict and international efforts to find a solution
The devastating conflict where both sides have reasons to keep fighting (Media Report, English)
- Almost a year ago I saw Khartoum for myself - driving carefully around unexploded munitions on the tarmac, touring the wrecked passenger halls in the airport's terminal, just days after Sudan's army recaptured it from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). […] Bashir had empowered Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as Hemedti, to run the RSF as a praetorian guard to protect him against possible challenges from within the army. Following Bashir's departure, tensions between Hemedti and the army chief Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan erupted into wider violence. […] Hemedti, a camel trader turned successful businessman, accrued much wealth from his position as head of a powerful paramilitary force. But as someone from the western Darfur region, he positioned himself as the champion of the disgruntled and of deprived areas beyond the capital.
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Article on tensions between Sudan and Ethiopia, which have tightened due to new accusations of cross-border activities
As Tensions Mount, Sudan Accuses Ethiopia of New Hostilities (Appeal or News Release, English)
- The latest spat comes on the back of months of complaints aired in private by Sudanese intelligence and security officials over the alleged construction of a new training base for the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which has been fighting Sudan’s army since 2023, in Ethiopia’s north west. […] General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Sudan’s de facto ruler, has forged security alliances with Egypt and Eritrea, both fierce regional adversaries of Ethiopia. Burhan has also sided with Egypt in its dispute with Addis Ababa over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile, whereas Sudan previously tried to temper disputes between the two.
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