Sudan War Crimes by Both Sides

 The Washington Post published on 18 January 2025 an article titled "Sudan's Military Recaptured a City.  Bodies Soon Filled the Streets" by Katharine Houreld, Hafiz Haroun, and Jonathan Baran.  

After the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) recaptured the city of Wad Madani from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), there were reports of war crimes by the SAF, demonstrating that the Army engages in some of the same practices as the RSF.  In this case, the victims were often migrants from South Sudan who had moved to Wad Madani.  

Will Darfur Split from Sudan?

 Aljazeera published on 14 January 2025 an article titled "Sudan Faces Possible Darfur Division as War Progresses, Say Analysts" by Mat Nashed.  

Darfur, a region in western Sudan nearly the size of France, may become a separate entity under the control of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.  If this happens, it could lead to additional geographical divisions in Sudan and the eventual collapse of the state.

Sudan Army Retakes Major Town from Rapid Support Forces

The Sudan Tribune published on 11 January 2025 an article titled "Sudan's RSF Leader Admits Defeat in Al Jazirah State, Vows to Fight On." 

The Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) recaptured Wad Madani, a strategic crossroads 170 kilometers southeast of Khartoum, from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).  This was a major victory for the SAF just as it was for the RSF more than a year ago when it captured the town from the SAF.  The RSF claimed the SAF victory was due to the use of Iranian drones, Eritrean forces, and Ethiopian Tigray militia fighters.  

Has Sudan's Armed Forces Turned Tide of Battle in Country?

 The Middle East News Agency published on 21 March 2024 an article titled "Sudan's Army Aims to Build on Khartoum Victories but Risks Overextending" by Hamza Hendawi.

Following a series of early military victories in the Khartoum capital region, Darfur in the west, and to the south of Khartoum by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) has recently had some limited military success in retaking ground from the RSF in Omdurman, across the Nile River from Khartoum.  SAF generals now say they plan to retake territory across Sudan, although some observers argue that the Army may overextend its capability.

Can Sudan's Army Extend Victory Beyond Radio and TV Station?

 Aljazeera published on 15 March 2024 an article titled "Can the Sudanese Army Sustain Its Recent Battlefield Success?" by Mat Nashed.

The Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) recaptured on 12 March the national radio and television building in Omdurman from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).  The SAF's recent victory casts doubt on the RSF's ability to control Sudan but leaves open whether this is a turning point in the war. 

Atrocities Mount in Sudan as World Focuses on Gaza and Ukraine

 The New York Times published on 24 February 2024 an article titled "Atrocities Mount in Sudan as War Spirals, U.N. Says" by Nick Cumming-Bruce and Declan Walsh.  

As Sudan's civil war rages and atrocities rise, the world is focused on conflict in Gaza and Ukraine.  Sudan is largely forgotten.  A UN appeal for $2.7 billion in humanitarian funding has yielded only 4 percent of the requested sum.  

Sudan: Compromise Is Not on the Table for Discussion

 The Economist published on 17 January 2024 an article titled "Why Diplomacy over Sudan, Africa's Enduring Nightmare, Is Stuck."

Following recent successful visits to Uganda, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, South Africa, and Rwanda, Rapid Support Forces paramilitary leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo is winning both the diplomatic battle and the war on the ground in Sudan.  Dagalo senses victory and is in no mood to compromise with the Sudan Armed Forces.

Current Military Situation in Sudan

 The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED) project posted on 12 January 2024 an analysis titled "Sudan: The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) Gains Ground in Sudan."

This analysis documents the current military situation in Sudan.  The paramilitary RSF has gained the upper hand over the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) in the ongoing civil war.  While the SAF still controls more state capitals, the RSF capture of Wad Madani, Sudan's second largest city, and Al Jazirah State south of Khartoum resulted in panic in other SAF-controlled states.  

Sudan Armed Forces Reportedly Crack Down on Civilian Resistance Committees

 Aljazeera published on 9 January 2024 an article titled "'They're Targeting Us': Sudan's Army Cracks Down on Democracy Activists."

As the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces made military advances into eastern Sudan, the Sudan Armed Forces reportedly began cracking down on civilian resistance committees.  

Sudanese Civilians Prevented from Fleeing Conflict Zone

 Aljazeera published on 29 December 2023 an article titled "'No Way to Leave': Sudan Paramilitary Traps Civilians in Breadbasket State" by Mat Nashed.  

The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces recently captured Wad Madani, Sudan's second largest city southeast of Khartoum, and is trying to prevent civilians from fleeing in order to demonstrate that they can govern the region.  There are numerous charges of atrocities against the civilian population and an increasing humanitarian crisis.  

Sudan's Rapid Support Force Leader Seeks Support in East Africa

 Aljazeera published on 28 December 2023 an article titled "Leader of Sudan's RSF Visits Ethiopia in Rare Foreign Trip as War Rages."

Rapid Support Force leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo has completed visits with the leaders of Uganda and Ethiopia and reportedly will visit Kenya seeking support from the leaders of Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD) members before IGAD holds a Sudan peace conference in Djibouti.

Sudan Is Becoming More Desperate

 Aljazeera published on 24 December 2023 an article titled "Sudan's Civilians Pick Up Arms as RSF Gains and Army Struggles" by Mat Nashed.  

The Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) leadership is encouraging young and untrained Sudanese to pick up weapons to prevent the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces from capturing additional cities now held by the SAF.  This is proving to be a highly problematic tactic.  

Aljazeera Podcast on War in Sudan

 Aljazeera posted on 20 December 2023 a 28-minute podcast titled "Where Does the Conflict in Sudan Stand after Eight Months?" with panelists Hamid Khalafallah, Sudan researcher, Alan Boswell, International Crisis Group, and me.  

The discussion focused on the current situation in Sudan and the prospects for achieving peace.  There was agreement that current peace talks between the Sudan Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces are going nowhere.  The situation is bleak and there is no good prognosis for Sudan's future.  

Food Shortages Increasingly Threaten Sudan

 Aljazeera published on 21 December 2023 an article titled "WFP Temporarily Halts Food Aid in Parts of Sudan as Fighting Spreads."

As fighting spreads into the grain producing part of Sudan, there are growing fears that food shortages will become an ever more serious threat. 

Are Sudan Armed Forces Up to the Task?

 The New York Times published on 20 December 2023 an article titled "Sudan's Army Faces Scrutiny after Major City Falls to Rival Forces" by Abdi Latif Dahir.

The Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) confirmed that they withdrew from Wad Madani, Sudan's second largest city about 85 miles southeast of Khartoum, as the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces began attacking the city.  An estimated 300,000 people, many of them displaced from Khartoum, have now fled Wad Madani.  The fall of Wad Madani raises serious questions about the ability of the SAF to maintain control of those parts of Sudan that it still holds.  

Rapid Support Forces Take Sudan's Second Largest City

 The Washington Post published on 19 December 2023 an article titled "Paramilitary Force Takes City in Heart of Sudan's Breadbasket; 300.000 Flee" by Katharine Houreld.

The article reports the fall of Wad Madani, Sudan's second largest city, to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, although parts of the town may still be controlled by the Sudan Armed Forces.  Many of the persons in Wad Madani had fled previously from the Khartoum region and now find themselves fleeing again.  There will inevitably be a humanitarian crisis in Wad Madani.  

Sudan's Second Largest City about to Fall to RSF

 Aljazeera published on 19 December 2023 an article titled "'Losing Hope': Sudan Civilians Terrified as RSF Attacks Second-biggest City" by Mat Nashed.  

The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces are on the verge of capturing Wad Madani, Sudan's second largest city, as Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) solders retreated.  Residents now expect the SAF to attack RSF positions in Wad Madani with aircraft as happened in Khartoum, killing many civilians in the process.  

War Comes to Sudan's Second Largest Town

 Aljazeera published on 17 December 2023 an article titled "Thousands Flee as War Reaches Sudan's Second-largest City."

Sudan's civil war has reached Wad Madani, Sudan's second-largest city located 85 miles southeast of Khartoum.  With a population of 700,000 and another 86,000 internally displaced persons who fled the conflict in the Khartoum region, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces is approaching Wad Madani, which had been held by the Sudan Armed Forces until now.  Consequently, some residents are fleeing further south.