Sudan's Forgotten War: The RSF Advance and Africa's Largest Displacement Crisis
One year into full-scale civil war, Sudan faces famine, ethnic cleansing, and international neglect
The civil war between Sudan's military (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has created the world's largest displacement crisis — over 12 million people forced from their homes — and is pushing multiple regions toward famine. This article examines the current state of the conflict, the humanitarian catastrophe, and why the international response has been so inadequate.
How the war began
The war erupted on April 15, 2023, when tensions between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) under General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) under General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo ("Hemedti") boiled over into open combat in Khartoum. The two generals had jointly overthrown the transitional civilian government in October 2021, but disagreements over the integration of the RSF into the regular military — a key condition of a planned democratic transition — proved irreconcilable.
The RSF's origins in Darfur
The RSF traces its origins to the Janjaweed militias that carried out atrocities in Darfur from 2003 onward. Hemedti transformed these loosely organized forces into a semi-professional paramilitary with significant gold mining revenues and external support from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Russia's Wagner Group (now Africa Corps).
Failed integration and power struggle
International mediators had proposed integrating the RSF into the SAF over a 10-year period. Hemedti wanted a longer timeline to preserve his autonomy; the military wanted faster integration to neutralize a rival power center. This impasse became the proximate cause of the war.
The military situation in 2026
As of April 2026, the RSF controls most of Darfur, Kordofan, and large parts of Khartoum state. The SAF retains control of Port Sudan (the de facto capital), the Nile Valley corridor, and the eastern regions. Neither side has the capacity to achieve a decisive military victory. The war has settled into a pattern of urban siege warfare, targeted ethnic violence, and periodic offensives that shift control of towns and supply routes without changing the strategic balance.
Khartoum: a destroyed capital
Greater Khartoum, once home to over 7 million people, is largely depopulated. The RSF controls most of the city, but SAF airstrikes continue to target RSF positions, causing extensive civilian infrastructure damage. Hospitals, power stations, and water treatment facilities have been destroyed or rendered non-functional.
Darfur: ethnic cleansing
In western Darfur, the RSF and allied Arab militias have carried out systematic attacks against Masalit, Fur, and Zaghawa communities. The UN has documented patterns consistent with ethnic cleansing, including mass killings, sexual violence, and forced displacement. El Geneina and Nyala have been particularly affected.
The humanitarian catastrophe
Sudan is now the world's largest displacement crisis. Over 12 million people have been internally displaced, and more than 2.5 million have fled to neighboring countries — primarily Chad, South Sudan, Egypt, and Ethiopia. The UN World Food Programme estimates that 25 million people face acute food insecurity, with famine conditions confirmed in parts of Darfur and Kordofan. Both warring parties have been accused of blocking humanitarian access, looting aid convoys, and weaponizing food distribution.
Access and obstruction
Humanitarian organizations face extreme difficulties reaching affected populations. The SAF has imposed bureaucratic barriers on cross-line deliveries, while the RSF has looted warehouses and attacked aid workers. Only a fraction of the $4.1 billion humanitarian appeal for 2026 has been funded.
Impact on children
UNICEF reports that over 4 million children under five are acutely malnourished, with at least 700,000 facing severe acute malnutrition. Schools across the country have been closed for over two years, and an estimated 19 million children have no access to education.
External actors and geopolitics
The Sudan war is not purely internal. The UAE has provided significant military support to the RSF, including weapons, drones, and logistics via bases in Chad. Egypt and Saudi Arabia have backed the SAF with diplomatic support and limited military assistance. Russia's Africa Corps maintains ties to both sides through gold mining concessions. The US and EU have imposed targeted sanctions but have been unable to establish a credible mediation framework.
Why the world isn't watching
Despite being one of the worst humanitarian crises in modern history, Sudan receives a fraction of the international attention given to Ukraine or Gaza. Several factors explain this: media access is extremely limited, there is no clear geopolitical alignment that mobilizes Western public opinion, and donor fatigue from simultaneous crises has stretched humanitarian budgets thin. The result is what aid organizations have called a "silent catastrophe" — enormous suffering with minimal political consequence.
Frequently asked questions
Sources and further reading
Authoritative external sources for deeper context
UN OCHA - Sudan Situation Report
UN OCHA
Human Rights Watch - Sudan War Reports
Human Rights Watch
ACLED - Sudan Conflict Data
ACLED
External links lead to independent sources. FrontWatch does not assume responsibility for third-party content.
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