Rival generals plunge Sudan into civil war

Ben Choucroun

The country of Sudan has been embroiled in a civil war between government forces, lead by dictator Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), lead by Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo, for over a month. The conflict has already killed thousands and further destabilized northeastern Africa.

Sudan is one of the world’s most unstable countries, having faced over 40 years of civil war throughout its 67 years of existence. The most recent conflict can trace its origins back to 2021, when the Sudanese military and the RSF jointly launched a coup against Sudan’s civilian government that was put in power during a 2019 revolution.

Relations between the RSF, supported until recently by the Sudanese government, and al-Burhan began to sour in early 2023. On April 15, 2023, these disagreements spiraled into war. Fighting has been going on in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum since April 15, and numerous attempts at a ceasefire have failed.

Both government forces (pictured above) and the RSF have committed numerous war crimes during the conflict. (Photo courtesy of the Atlantic)