Sudan Army-RSF War
Sudan's army and the Rapid Support Forces continue their conflict with intensified drone strikes across regions like White Nile State and near Khartoum. Rights groups report RSF drones killing dozens of civilians in recent attacks on villages, vehicles, hospitals, and fuel stations since March 2026. Both sides deploy drones amid ongoing battles for control of key areas.
The war erupted in April 2023 when tensions between the Sudanese Armed Forces, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces, commanded by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), boiled over into open combat. The RSF originated from Janjaweed militias that gained power during the Darfur conflict in the 2000s and formalized as a paramilitary under former president Omar al-Bashir. Power-sharing disputes after Bashir's 2019 ouster fueled rivalry, leading both factions to vie for dominance after a 2021 coup they jointly staged.
Timeline
Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF)
The national army leads the government-aligned forces fighting to control Khartoum and major cities.
Rapid Support Forces (RSF)
Paramilitary group contests army dominance through ground offensives and drone strikes in multiple regions.
Abdel Fattah al-Burhan
SAF commander and de facto head of state directs military strategy against the RSF.
Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti)
RSF leader oversees paramilitary operations and seeks political leverage in the conflict.
Emergency Lawyers
Sudanese rights group documents civilian casualties and holds RSF accountable for drone attacks.
Sudanese Alliance for Rights
Advocacy network condemns RSF strikes on villages and pushes for accountability.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
Medical aid group reports on attacks like the Al-Jabalain hospital strike and aids victims.
- •The Sudanese Armed Forces seek to reassert central control and defeat the RSF to restore a unified military-led government.
- •The Rapid Support Forces aim to expand territorial holdings, particularly in resource-rich west and central Sudan, while securing a role in any future power structure.
Sudanese Government View
The army portrays RSF drone strikes as deliberate terrorist acts against civilians to undermine state authority. Officials emphasize their recapture of Khartoum and frame the conflict as a defense against paramilitary rebellion. They call for international support to end RSF aggression.
RSF Perspective
RSF leaders describe their operations as targeted responses to army advances and blockades. They deny intentional civilian hits, attributing casualties to army misuse of populated areas. The group positions itself as protector of marginalized communities against army dominance.
Rights Groups and UN
Organizations like Emergency Lawyers and UN officials condemn drone attacks by both sides as violations of international law. They document over 500 civilian deaths from drones in early 2026 alone and urge ceasefires. Focus remains on protecting non-combatants amid escalating aerial warfare.
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