The war in Sudan broke out on 15 April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), which is the country’s official military, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group with its origins in the genocide in Darfur. Until then, the two had jointly governed Sudan since seizing power in a coup in 2019 amid mass protests against dictator Omar al-Bashir. The new government initially included civilian representation, but a further coup in late 2021 removed the civilian component and established a military junta. Both groups remained in theory committed to an eventual transition to civilian rule, but relations broke down over disagreements about the role each should play in the future of Sudan. The fighting began in Khartoum, with each side later accusing the other of having fired the first shot, and quickly spread across the country. The ensuing conflict has ravaged huge swathes of the country, fuelled by competition for land, power, and resources, and seen civilians systematically targeted by both sides. Estimates of those killed reach into the hundreds of thousands, while millions have been displaced and many more are experiencing the worst humanitarian crisis anywhere in the world.
RSF and other groups meet in Kenyan capital Nairobi for talks on forming a parallel government in areas under RSF control.
AF forces regain control of Khartoum and the presidential palace.
RSF marks the second anniversary of the conflict by declaring a parallel government.
US-brokered peace talks in Geneva are attended by the RSF, representatives of the UN and the African Union, and observers from Egypt and the UAE but are boycotted by SAF. Following the close of the talks, Burhan gives a press conference vowing to “fight for 100 years” to win the war
The ongoing war breaks out amid competition for power and influence in any future Sudanese government between SAF and the RSF. Among the key points of contention is Hemedti’s unwillingness to have the RSF bought under the control of the Sudanese military, a move that would have significantly decreased his control of the group
An agreement for a temporary ceasefire - known as the Treaty of Jeddah - is signed by SAF, the RSF, Saudi Arabia, and the US following talks in Saudi Arabia, but breaks down almost immediately
Attempts to revive the Jeddah agreement are inconclusive
Homdok resigns after being unable to broker an agreement for a transition to civilian rule and amid mounting protests against his cooperation with the military
An agreement for a temporary ceasefire - known as the Treaty of Jeddah - is signed by SAF, the RSF, Saudi Arabia, and the US following talks in Saudi Arabia, but breaks down almost immediately
Attempts to revive the Jeddah agreement are inconclusive
Burhan stages a second coup amid reignited protests and tensions between the military and civilian elements of the government. The TSC is dissolved and Prime Minister Hamdok, as well as five other ministers, is arrested.
The TSC is reconstituted with Burhan and Hemedti still as chairman and deputy chairman.
Hamdok is reinstated following protests against the coup
A violent crackdown by the security forces and the RSF sees dozens of protesters killed and hundreds arrested
President Bashir dissolves the federal government, declares a state of emergency, and replaces state governors with members of the security forces
An ongoing crackdown, including the use of live ammunition to break up demonstrations, fails to quell the protests
President Bashir is deposed in a coup carried out jointly by SAF and the RSF, but protesters continue to call for a transition to democracy and civilian rule
At least 120 protesters are killed when live ammunition is used to disperse a sit-in in front of the military headquarters in Khartoum
Amid international pressure, the military agrees to power-sharing with civilian leaders and the TSC is established. Abdalla Hamdok becomes prime minister and elections are scheduled for 2023.
Protests break out in cities around Sudan amid discontent over the rising cost of living and basic goods like bread
The RSF is formally established, mostly from what was the Janjaweed, and brought under the partial control of President Bashir. It is then used as an arms-length paramilitary force to put down further uprisings
The war in Darfur breaks out after the Sudanese government used the Janjaweed, an Arab militia, to put down an uprising by a number of groups who accused the government of oppressing the region’s non-Arab population. The following years saw a campaign of genocide in which hundreds of thousands were killed and millions were displaced.
Head of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and de facto ruler of Sudan
Known as Hemedti Head of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and deputy to Burhan until the war began in 2023
Hemedti’s brother and deputy leader of the RSF
Former president of Sudan ousted in a 2019 coup led by al-Burhan and Hemedti. Seized power in a coup himself in 1989
Former prime minster and now leader of the Democratic Civilian Coalition for the Revolutionary Forces, or Smoud, an alliance of political parties and professional associations which favours civilian rule
Leader of a faction of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement–North. Controls much of South Kordofan state and has backed the RSF’s declaration of a parallel government in Darfur
Leader of joint forces
The military of Sudan
A paramilitary group that grew out of the Janjaweed, an Arab militia that took part in a genocide against the non-Arab population of Darfur on behalf of the Sudanese government from 2003
Political party of Omar al-Bashir that was dissolved and banned following his ouster
Collective head of state of Sudan. Established in August 2019, it initially had both civilian and military representatives, but in October 2021 was dissolved in a secondary coup by SAF and the RSF. The following month, it was reformed as a military junta
Junta that ruled Sudan from the ouster of Bashir in Apr 2019 until the TSC was set up that August
Coalition of civilian and rebel groups formed during the 2018-19 protests. It put forward civilians who served on the TSC until the original council was dissolved in October 2021.
A pro-civilian rule coalition formed in October 2023 and headed by Hamdok until its dissolution in February 2025 amid internal disagreement about whether to back RSF attempts to form a parallel government
A coalition formed by Hamdok following the collapse of Tagadum that claims to be neutral in the conflict
A coalition whose members include the RSF and former members of Tagadum that support its attempts to form a parallel government
An armed group that fights in support of the Sudanese Armed Forces
An Islamist militia that fights in support of the Sudanese Armed Forces
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