The conflict in Sudan, which erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has dragged on into its third year, turning the nation into a landscape of unrelenting devastation. What began as a power struggle between two former allies—General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan of the SAF and General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, of the RSF—has evolved into a brutal civil war that has claimed over 80,000 lives, according to conservative estimates from international observers. The true toll may be far higher, with satellite imagery and ground reports suggesting mass graves and unreported deaths in remote areas pushing the figure toward 150,000 or more. As of November 2025, the SAF appears to be consolidating its hold on key territories, particularly in the capital Khartoum, where recent military advances have shifted the balance in their favor.
The roots of this nightmare trace back to Sudan’s fragile transition after the 2019 ousting of longtime dictator Omar al-Bashir. Civilian protests had forced his removal, paving the way for a shared power arrangement between military and civilian leaders. However, tensions simmered as the SAF and RSF, both products of Bashir’s regime, vied for dominance. The RSF, originally formed from Janjaweed militias infamous for atrocities in Darfur during the early 2000s, grew into a powerful paramilitary force under Hemedti’s command. By 2023, disagreements over integrating the RSF into the national army boiled over into open warfare. Fighting broke out in Khartoum, quickly spreading to other regions like Darfur, Kordofan, and Jezira states. The capital, once a bustling hub along the Nile, became a ghost city riddled with sniper fire, artillery bombardments, and drone strikes.
In the early phases of the war, the RSF made swift gains, seizing control of much of Khartoum and western Sudan, including gold-rich areas in Darfur that funded their operations. They looted homes, hospitals, and banks, displacing millions and triggering a humanitarian catastrophe. Reports of ethnic killings, sexual violence, and forced recruitment emerged, echoing the horrors of the 2003 Darfur genocide. The SAF, backed by Egypt and elements of the old Islamist regime, retreated initially but regrouped with foreign support, including drones from Iran and training from Russia. By mid-2025, the tide began to turn. In February and March, SAF forces launched a counteroffensive in Khartoum, reclaiming the international airport, presidential palace, and strategic neighborhoods. This victory allowed limited civilian flights to resume briefly in October, though RSF drone attacks soon disrupted them again.
These gains in Khartoum have come at a tremendous cost. Airstrikes by the SAF have leveled entire blocks, killing civilians indiscriminately. In one incident in south Khartoum’s Goro Market, eight people died in a single bombardment. Ground clashes have left streets strewn with bodies, and the city’s infrastructure—power grids, water systems, and hospitals—lies in ruins. Over 12 million people have been displaced nationwide, with many fleeing to neighboring Chad, South Sudan, or Egypt. In camps like Zamzam in Darfur, famine has taken hold, with children dying from malnutrition at alarming rates. The United Nations has declared it the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, yet aid delivery remains hampered by blocked roads, sieges, and bureaucratic hurdles imposed by both sides.
While the SAF solidifies its position in the capital, the RSF has not been idle. In late October 2025, they captured El Fasher, the last major SAF stronghold in Darfur, after an 18-month siege. This victory followed weeks of intense fighting that left thousands dead and sparked reports of mass executions and ethnic targeting against groups like the Zaghawa and Fur. Survivors described RSF fighters hunting down civilians, humiliating them, and carrying out killings visible even from satellite imagery. The fall of El Fasher has raised fears of Sudan’s de facto partition, with the RSF controlling vast swaths of the west, rich in resources like gold and oil, while the SAF holds the east and north, including key ports. Analysts warn that this could entrench the conflict, turning it into a prolonged stalemate fueled by foreign meddling.
Foreign involvement has indeed prolonged Sudan’s agony. The United Arab Emirates has been accused of arming the RSF in exchange for Sudanese gold, channeling weapons through Chad despite denials. On the other side, Egypt supports the SAF to prevent Islamist elements from gaining ground, while Russia and Iran provide military hardware. Eritrea’s involvement has raised alarms, with reports of its dictator backing the SAF to create a potential launchpad for regional instability. The fragmentation is evident: Islamist factions within the SAF push for a hardline agenda, while the RSF positions itself as more secular but equally ruthless.
The human cost defies comprehension. Diseases like cholera ravage overcrowded camps, and famine affects over 25 million people—half the population. Children, making up a large portion of the trapped populations in places like El Fasher, face acute risks, with 1.4 million at imminent famine danger. Villages in states like Jezira and White Nile have seen repeated RSF attacks, with death tolls climbing into the hundreds in short spans. In one 10-day period in Darfur, 89 civilians were killed in RSF assaults. Mass graves dot the landscape, and the economy has collapsed, with inflation soaring and basic goods scarce.
Mediation efforts have faltered repeatedly. Ceasefires brokered by the U.S., Saudi Arabia, and the African Union collapse amid mutual accusations. In March 2025, the SAF’s recapture of Khartoum briefly raised hopes, but the RSF’s Darfur gains have dashed them. Transitional Prime Minister Kamil Idris addressed the UN General Assembly in September, condemning foreign mercenaries and calling for an end to sieges, but little has changed. The international community’s attention remains divided, with Sudan’s crisis overshadowed by conflicts elsewhere, despite its scale.
As the SAF presses its advantages in Khartoum and surrounding areas, pushing RSF forces southward and straining their supply lines, the war shows no signs of abating. Recent SAF operations in North Kordofan have killed hundreds of RSF fighters and seized vehicles, further tilting the momentum. Yet, with both sides entrenched and foreign powers invested, Sudan’s nightmare seems endless. Civilians bear the brunt, caught in a cycle of violence that has destroyed generations. Without decisive global intervention—sanctions, aid corridors, and genuine peace talks—the death toll will only climb, and the nation’s future will remain shrouded in despair.
The path forward requires acknowledging the war’s complexities: not just a military contest, but a battle over resources, ethnicity, and governance. Gold mines in Darfur fund the RSF, while SAF control of ports secures revenue. Ethnic divisions exacerbate the fighting, with RSF atrocities reminiscent of past genocides. For Sudan to heal, accountability for war crimes is essential, alongside support for civilian rule. Until then, the endless nightmare persists, a stark reminder of how power struggles can devour a nation whole.
