the genocide in darfur stemmed from armed conflict between the sudanese government and

In short, both al-Burhan and Hemetti were anticipating and gearing up for a confrontation. And just days before the clashes in the capital, the RSF had deployed to Marowe, a town in the northern part of the country, and fighting had taken place there. But in the weeks before, the RSF had deployed large numbers of armed men into Khartoum, and the SAF had deployed tanks and heavy weapons. Both Sides Were Prepared for Confrontationīoth al-Burhan and Hemetti are trading accusations about who started the clashes in Khartoum. But even with successful mediation, this outbreak of violence threatens to weaken Sudan’s already shaky stability - and could undermine peace in the broader Horn of Africa region as well.

There is still a chance to prevent the situation from escalating further. Many countries in the region, as well as major powers like the United States, have called for an end to hostilities, and efforts to secure a cease-fire are ongoing.

While immediate details have been difficult to discern, it’s clear the two sides are battling for control of the country’s major institutions, as reports indicate much of the fighting has centered around locations such as the presidential palace, SAF’s military headquarters and Khartoum’s airport. Negotiations to resolve the issues stalled, and tensions quickly rose between al-Burhan and Hemetti in the weeks leading up to the current violence. But after the SAF, RSF and civilian political leaders agreed to a new framework for a democratic transition in December, questions emerged over how the RSF would be integrated into the SAF, as well as over who would assume leadership of the newly consolidated military. The two leaders had previously worked together, toppling the al-Bashir regime in 2019 and orchestrating a military coup in October 2021 that removed the civilian prime minister and cabinet and suspended the constitution. While it’s unclear who initiated the fighting, the situation brings the de-facto leader of Sudan, the SAF’s General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, into direct confrontation with his deputy, the RSF’s General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, who is also referred to as “Hemetti.” Smoke rises following a bombing in the Al-Tayif neighbourhood of Khartoum, Sudan (UNSDG: Open Source) Since Saturday, violent clashes between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been raging in the capital Khartoum and in other strategic areas throughout the country.

The genocide in darfur stemmed from armed conflict between the sudanese government and