Sudan War Reaches Turning Point as Paramilitary Force Seizes Darfur

Sudan’s civil war has taken a critical turn. The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has captured the entire Darfur region. This major victory threatens to split Africa’s third-largest nation in two.

The fall of el-Fasher, the army’s last Darfur stronghold, marks a strategic shift. It gives the RSF control over a vast territory and raises fears of a formal partition. The conflict has already created the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.

Rapid Support Forces Consolidate Power in Western Sudan

The RSF’s capture of Darfur was a brutal, months-long campaign. According to Reuters, the fighting has displaced millions and caused widespread famine. The group now governs a contiguous landmass in western Sudan.

This consolidation allows the RSF to establish its own rival government. Leader Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, has already announced this intention. The move effectively creates two separate states within Sudan’s borders.

The Sudanese army is now largely confined to the country’s center and east. Its leader, Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, faces a formidable challenge. Retaking the lost territory appears increasingly difficult.

Historical Grievances and Regional Alliances Fuel the Conflict

The current war has deep roots in the Darfur conflict of the early 2000s. The RSF evolved from the Janjaweed militias accused of genocide during that period. This history fuels the intense ethnic and political divisions today.

Regional powers are heavily involved in the conflict. The Sudanese army accuses the United Arab Emirates and Libya’s Khalifa Haftar of backing the RSF. These external alliances provide weapons, funds, and fighters that prolong the war.

For both generals, this is a fight for survival. Neither can afford to lose. This reality suggests the brutal conflict will continue despite the immense human cost.

The seizure of Darfur represents the most significant territorial shift in the Sudan war to date. It fundamentally alters the conflict’s dynamics and makes a negotiated peace more complex. The potential for a permanent partition of Sudan is now a real and alarming possibility.

Thought you’d like to know

How long has the Sudan war been going on?

The current conflict began in April 2023. It is a power struggle between the national army and the paramilitary RSF. The fighting has now persisted for over two years.

Who are the main leaders in this conflict?

The war pits Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, head of the Sudanese army, against Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo. Dagalo leads the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group. Both men were once allies in a ruling council.

What is the human cost of the war?

The conflict has killed over 40,000 people according to credible estimates. It has also displaced more than 14 million individuals. This makes it the world’s largest current displacement crisis.

Why is the capture of Darfur significant?

Darfur is a vast and strategically important region. Its capture gives the RSF a solid territorial base from which to operate. This control makes the potential fragmentation of Sudan a real threat.

What has been the international response?

The international community has struggled to mediate a ceasefire. The United States has imposed sanctions on the RSF for human rights abuses. Multiple UN agencies are providing humanitarian aid.

Trusted Sources

Reuters, Associated Press, BBC News, The New York Times