Armed conflict in Sudan

Fierce fighting is ongoing in Sudan between the army and rapid response forces. More than 100 people have died, and over a thousand have been injured.

General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan commands the Sudanese army, as well as the Sovereign Council of Sudan, and effectively serves as the head of state. Recently, he decided to dissolve the rapid response forces and declared them a rebellious force against the state.

The rapid response forces are commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, better known as Hemeti.

The number of rapid response fighters exceeds 100,000, who are dispersed across various regions of the country, particularly in border areas. The rapid response forces are a separate unit that does not fall under the command of the army or any other security structure. The group began its activities during the presidency of Omar al-Bashir in 2015.

Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo serves as al-Burhan’s deputy in the Sovereign Council of Sudan – the governing body of the country and effectively the second person in the state.

General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan decided to integrate the rapid response forces into the army structure. He insisted on an expedited process and proposed to complete it within two years. This did not sit well with his deputy Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, who planned to finalize the process on his own terms and over a period of 10 years.

As a result, the conflict escalated into an armed confrontation that began on April 15, resulting in more than 100 deaths and over a thousand injuries.