Rapid Support Forces

A news report examines why Sudan's civil war, which began in April 2023 between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, continues despite international mediation efforts. The piece explores the underlying political, ethnic and regional dynamics that keep the fighting going, drawing broad public attention as the humanitarian crisis in Sudan deepens.

Sudan is effectively governed by two rival powers, with the army-backed administration controlling much of the formal state apparatus while the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces rules territory under its control. Washington has signalled it recognises neither side as legitimate constitutional governance, leaving the country with authorities but no internationally endorsed government.

A former member of Sudan's cabinet has publicly called on army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan to bring an end to the country's war. The appeal adds to growing pressure on Sudan's military leadership as the conflict, which began in April 2023 between the army and the Rapid Support Forces, continues to devastate the country and displace millions.

Sudan's government says it will not yield to 'pressure or blackmail' after the United States refused to grant a visa to army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, blocking him from attending the UN General Assembly in New York. The move escalates tensions between Washington and Khartoum amid the country's ongoing civil conflict between the army and the Rapid Support Forces.

The UN Security Council faces a Saturday deadline to renew the arms embargo on Darfur, Sudan, which would otherwise expire. German daily taz highlights the stakes, with discussion pointing to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, the United Arab Emirates' alleged role, and the war's spillover into Libya, Colombia and beyond. Commenters warn that letting the embargo lapse would further fuel the conflict.

Sudanese authorities say a fire at fuel depots in Al Jazirah state, ignited by a drone strike attributed to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, has been brought under control. The strike is the latest escalation in the ongoing war between the Sudanese army and the RSF, raising concerns about damage to critical fuel infrastructure and civilian supply lines.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for accountability from those providing support to the warring parties in Sudan, where fighting between the army and the Rapid Support Forces has displaced millions and created one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. He urged an end to external involvement fueling the conflict and renewed pressure for a peaceful resolution.

Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan declared that Sudan will not submit to pressure or blackmail, according to Anadolu Agency. The statement comes as the country continues to face international diplomatic pressure amid its devastating civil war with the Rapid Support Forces, with talks over ceasefires and political transitions repeatedly stalling.

The Sudanese army says it has shot down a fifth drone belonging to the Rapid Support Forces within a single week, as the two sides continue their war with escalating attacks involving unmanned aircraft. The claim highlights the growing role of drone warfare in the conflict, though independent confirmation of the figure is limited.

Sudan's ceasefire agreements, first brokered in Jeddah and later discussed at the UN in New York, have repeatedly collapsed as fighting between the army and the Rapid Support Forces continues. Analysts point to weak enforcement, lack of monitoring, and the parties' unwillingness to compromise as reasons the truces fail, leaving civilians facing a worsening humanitarian crisis.

Massad Boulos, a senior US adviser, said Washington's move to block Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan from attending the UN General Assembly is part of expanding American efforts to end Sudan's war. The decision signals mounting US pressure on Sudan's warring parties as the conflict between the army and the Rapid Support Forces continues to devastate the country.

Massad Boulos, a US adviser on Africa, said an arms embargo could halt the violence gripping Sudan, according to The National. His comments point to international pressure to cut weapon supplies fueling the war between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, which has caused one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.

The Sudanese army and its allied forces have seized the town of Sodari, in what is described as a fresh setback for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The advance marks another gain for the army in its ongoing war with the paramilitary group, which has ravaged Sudan since fighting broke out in April 2023, displacing millions and pushing the country toward famine.

Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces are extracting transit fees from oil passing through Heglig, where pumping continues at around 26,000 barrels per day. The report underscores how control of key oil infrastructure in South Kordofan has become a revenue source for the RSF during Sudan's war, complicating Khartoum's finances and oil export arrangements.

Sudanese state media report that a military group from the Rapid Support Forces has defected and joined the Sudanese army. The claim comes amid the ongoing war between the army and the RSF, and neither outlet provided further details on the size of the defected group or where the defection took place.

Sudan's Rapid Support Forces is reportedly extracting transit fees from oil flowing through Heglig, where production has reached 26,000 barrels per day. The development highlights how the paramilitary group is monetising control of key oil infrastructure during the country's civil war, raising questions about the future of Sudan's oil revenues, which are vital to both the state budget and exports via South Sudan's pipeline network.

The executive director of Al-Nuhud in West Kordofan says military forces are advancing to liberate the region, as Sudan's war continues. The claim comes amid ongoing fighting between the army and the Rapid Support Forces, with local officials reporting movements aimed at retaking areas of the western state. Further details on the scale of the operation were not provided.

A force affiliated with Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has defected and joined the Sudanese army, according to reports from the region. The switch marks a notable shift in allegiances within Sudan's ongoing civil war, which has pitted the army against the RSF since 2023. Details about the size of the defecting force and the circumstances of its move remain limited.

A fluorescence-based PCR test has been developed that can identify macrolide-resistant Mycoplasma pneumoniae, the bacterium behind common respiratory infections, within hours rather than days. Rapid detection of resistance matters because macrolides are a first-line treatment, and resistant strains force clinicians to switch therapies. The test could help doctors choose effective antibiotics sooner and support surveillance of resistant mycoplasma strains.