Sudan Armed Forces Makes Some Gains Against Rapid Support Forces

 AEI's Critical Threats Africa File posted on 9 July 2026 an article titled "Sudan" by Michael DeAngelo and Angus Muldoon.  

The Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) has recaptured from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces several towns in Sudan's Blue Nile State that borders Ethiopia.  This relieves some of the pressure on SAF forces elsewhere in the country.  The SAF has also had some military gains near Sudan's border with Chad.

Sudan's Civil War: Two Sides Trade Territory and Drone Attacks

 AEI's Critical Threats Africa File posted on 14 May 2026 an article titled "Sudan" by Michael DeAngelo.

Following drone attacks on the Khartoum airport by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) reciprocated by launching drone strikes on the RSF airport at Nyala.  The two sides have also exchanged control over some territory with neither the RSF nor the SAF demonstrating the ability to make decisive gains.  

Short Video Analysis of Sudan's Civil War

 The Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies posted on 17 April 2026 an eight-minute video analysis titled "The Sudanese Civil War, Three Years On" by Michael Jones.

After three years of conflict the Sudan civil war has reached a political and military dynamic stalemate.  Diplomatic efforts to reach a ceasefire have achieved little progress.  The war is sustained by foreign powers, especially the Arab Gulf states.  The conflict threatens to become a regional war.

Rapid Support Forces Makes Gains in Blue Nile State with UAE and Ethiopian Help

 AEI's Critical Threat Africa File posted on 26 March 2026 an article titled "Sudan" by Michael DeAngelo, Liam Karr, and Elliot Nazar.  

The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied SPLM-N have taken control of the southern part of Sudan's Blue Nile State, which borders Ethiopia.  The UAE is now supplying the RSF through Ethiopia and across the border into Blue Nile State.  

Sudan Says RSF Is Operating Attack Drones from Western Ethiopia

 AEI's Critical Threats Africa File posted on 5 March 2026 an article titled "Sudan" by Michael DeAngelo, Liam Karr, and Elliot Nazar.

Sudan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation claimed that Ethiopia is allowing the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces to launch attack drones from Asosa airport in western Ethiopia against Sudan Armed Forces (SAF)-controlled territory in Sudan.  Ethiopia has denied the charge.

If true, this situation could quickly get out of control and result in SAF retaliatory attacks against Ethiopia and encourage closer SAF relations with the Tigray People's Liberation Front.  

Sudan: Quad Peace Plan Flounders

 AEI's Critical Threats Africa File posted on 19 February 2026 an article titled "Sudan" by Michael DeAngelo and Elliot Nazar.  

The Quad (United States, UAE, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia) peace proposal is stalled due in large part to the fact that the UAE supports the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and Egypt and Saudi Arabia support the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF).  Neither the RSF nor the SAF has fully committed to the Quad ceasefire proposal.  Ethiopia's support for a new RSF military campaign in Sudan's neighboring Blue Nile state is further complicating any peace settlement.  

Apparent Ethiopian Support for Rapid Support Forces in Sudan

 Reuters published on 10 February 2026 a major report titled "Ethiopia Builds Secret Camp to Train RSF Fighters, Sources Say" by Giulia Paravicini and Reade Levinson.  

The journalists report that Ethiopia is hosting a secret camp to train thousands of fighters for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group in neighboring Sudan.  Located inside Ethiopia about 32 kilometers from the Sudan/South Sudan border, the camp had 4,300 RSF fighters undergoing military training as of early January.  The recruits are mainly Ethiopian but also include nationals from Sudan and South Sudan, including from the SPLM-N militia that controls territory in Sudan's neighboring Blue Nile State.

Eight sources, including a senior Ethiopian government official, said the United Arab Emirates financed the camp's construction and provided military trainers and logistical support to the camp.  Satellite imagery confirms existence of the camp and has also detected new drone operations in the vicinity.  The camp constitutes the first direct evidence of Ethiopia's involvement in Sudan's civil war.

Reviving Sudan-South Sudan Dialogue on Abyei

 The UN Political and Peace Building Affairs Department posted on 5 November 2025 the remarks by special envoy of the Secretary General for the Horn of Africa Guang Cong to the UN Security Council on Sudan and South Sudan.

The civil war in Sudan is exacerbating the humanitarian situation in the disputed region of Abyei along the Sudan-South Sudan border and has interrupted negotiations for a settlement.  There are recent indications that both Sudan and South Sudan are willing to revive the African Union-led political process regarding Abyei's future.  

Sudan after 100 Days of War

 Aljazeera published on 24 July 2023 an article titled "100 Days of Fighting in Sudan and no Peace in Sight: What to Know" by Virginia Pietromarchi.  

This is a review and status report on the situation in Sudan after 100 days of war between the Sudan Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.  There is little reason to expect any end to the conflict anytime soon.  

Gold Mining in Sudan

The Rift Valley Institute published in March 2020 a briefing paper titled "How Sudan's Gold Boom Is Changing Labour Relations in Blue Nile State" by Mohamed Salah and Enrico Ille.

The authors conclude the while small-scale artisanal gold mining in Sudan's Blue Nile State will open new economic opportunities for some, it also risks the health of many who are involved.

Sudan and US Sanctions

The International Crisis Group (ICG) published on 29 September 2017 a commentary titled "A New Roadmap to Make U.S. Sudan Sanctions Relief Work."

The United States will decide by October 12 whether to lift permanently economic and trade sanctions that the Obama administration suspended in January 2017. The ICG concludes that lifting the sanctions is the wiser course. If the US declines to lift sanctions, it risks losing considerable future leverage with Sudan and reinforces Khartoum's belief that Washington cannot be relied upon to honor its commitments.

Conflict in Sudan's Blue Nile State

The International Crisis Group (ICG) published on 18 June 2013 an extensive report titled "Sudan's Spreading Conflict (II): War in Blue Nile."  It covers all aspects of the ongoing conflict in Sudan's Blue Nile State.

The ICG concludes that Blue Nile State has become a major battleground for the ideological competition between two opposed models: Khartoum's attempts at unifying and centralizing the country with a dominant Arab-Islamic identity, which South Sudan's separation is paradoxically reviving, versus the rebel SPLM/A's and now Sudan Revolutionary Front's agenda for a more inclusive and devolved Sudan.  Attempts to resolve Blue Nile's past and current conflicts reflect Sudan's existential dilemma as to how best it should define itself.

Humanitarian Access to Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom issued a policy brief in September 2012 that called on the government of Sudan to permit humanitarian access to Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile States so that the international community could address the needs of hundreds of thousands of displaced persons.

Click here to read the policy brief.

Sudan: Refugees from Blue Nile State Speak Out

The Enough Project published a report in July 2012 that summarizes interviews with more than a dozen refugees at the Batil refugee camp in South Sudan who had recently fled from Blue Nile State in Sudan. Their accounts are not pretty and underscore the indiscriminate nature of the military action that Sudan is conducting in Blue Nile State.

Although not covered in this Enough Project report, it is well known that South Sudan is providing assistance to the SPLM-North organization, which is committed to overthrowing the Bashir government.

Click here to read the report.