Sudan War Aftermath: Khartoum Siege Lift, Crisis Stats 2025

By Darius Spearman (africanelements)

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The long and brutal conflict in Sudan has reached a significant moment. After nearly two years of devastating fighting, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have withdrawn from the capital, Khartoum. This marks a major shift in the power struggle with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). However, this military development happens against a backdrop of immense human suffering. Millions of our brothers and sisters face displacement, starvation, and violence. Understanding these events is crucial as the future of Sudan hangs precariously in the balance.

Khartoum Siege Lifted: A Turning Point?

The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) achieved several key victories leading up to regaining control of Khartoum. Their advances began earlier in the year. For instance, they broke the long two-year siege of El Obeid on February 23, 2025 (Euronews). The SAF also recaptured El Geteina, a strategic town in White Nile Province (Euronews). By mid-March, the momentum clearly favored the army. Indeed, they had encircled RSF fighters holding out in the presidential palace by March 16 (Sudan Tribune). The army also secured vital infrastructure like the Sharoni bus station and El Nilein Towers during this push (Sudan Tribune).

The final push came later in March. On March 26, 2025, SAF forces successfully recaptured Khartoum International Airport and the crucial Manshiya Bridge (Wikipedia). These actions drove the remaining RSF forces southward out of the central areas. Following these gains, SAF leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan declared Khartoum “free” (Wikipedia). While the army secured landmarks like the presidential palace and the airport, these strategic locations now lie mostly in ruins (Sudan War: RSF Confirms Withdrawal from Khartoum). Nevertheless, regaining control of the capital represents a major symbolic and strategic victory for the SAF after intense urban warfare (Wikipedia).

RSF Withdrawal: Hemedti Concedes Khartoum

The leader of the Rapid Support Forces, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, officially confirmed the withdrawal. He admitted on March 30, 2025, that his fighters had pulled out of Khartoum (Sudan War: RSF Confirms Withdrawal from Khartoum). This admission marked a pivotal moment after almost two years of conflict where the RSF held significant parts of the capital. The RSF, a powerful paramilitary group, originated from the notorious Janjaweed militias (Wikipedia; Policy Center for the New South). These militias were heavily involved in the Darfur genocide. Hemedti rose from a Janjaweed commander to lead the RSF, becoming a major political and military player after President Omar al-Bashir was ousted (ACLED; Policy Center for the New South). The current war largely stemmed from disagreements over integrating the RSF into the national army (ACLED; Wikipedia).

The withdrawal from Khartoum followed other significant setbacks for the RSF. They lost control of key areas like El Geteina in White Nile province and Wad Medani in Gezira Province (Euronews). Furthermore, the RSF lost Sudan’s largest oil refinery, a major economic blow (Euronews). Just before the Khartoum withdrawal confirmation, the SAF regained the Souq Libya market in Omdurman on March 29, further tightening their grip on the Greater Khartoum area (Wikipedia). Despite these military losses, the RSF attempted a political maneuver. They signed a charter with allied groups from the SPLM-N coalition, aiming to establish a rival “Government of Peace and Unity” (Euronews). This move clearly challenges the legitimacy of the SAF-backed administration.

Sudan Humanitarian Crisis: A Catastrophe Unfolding

The military shifts offer little comfort amid a catastrophic humanitarian situation. The scale of suffering is immense, felt deeply by Sudanese people and the diaspora watching in horror. Over 12 million individuals have been forced from their homes since the conflict began (Sudan War: RSF Confirms Withdrawal from Khartoum). Some estimates place the total number of displaced even higher, at 14.6 million (International Rescue Committee). Tens of thousands of civilians have tragically lost their lives (Sudan War: RSF Confirms Withdrawal from Khartoum). Making matters worse, famine has been officially confirmed in parts of the country (Sudan War: RSF Confirms Withdrawal from Khartoum). Major cities like Khartoum show scars of extreme destruction, a visible testament to the brutal fighting (Sudan War: RSF Confirms Withdrawal from Khartoum).

Civilians continue to bear the brunt of the violence. RSF attacks on camps for internally displaced people (IDPs) have caused significant casualties. For example, an attack on the Zamzam camp on February 12, 2025, killed 31 civilians (Wikipedia). Other strikes on villages like al-Jamalab and Na’ima claimed another 30 lives (Wikipedia). Beyond direct attacks, the conflict has shattered the country’s ability to cope. An estimated 30 million Sudanese face hunger (International Rescue Committee). Collapsed healthcare systems struggle to handle conflict injuries, let alone outbreaks of diseases like cholera, which thrive in these conditions (NCBI; Policy Center for the New South). Aid access remains severely restricted, compounding the misery for millions.

Roots of Conflict and Fragmentation in the Sudan War

This devastating conflict didn’t erupt overnight. Its roots lie in the unresolved power struggles following the 2019 removal of Omar al-Bashir. Specifically, deep disagreements flared over how, or if, the powerful RSF led by Hemedti would be integrated into the regular Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) under General al-Burhan (ACLED; Wikipedia). A political framework agreement in December 2022, meant to guide a transition to civilian rule, ultimately failed because the two military factions couldn’t agree on this crucial point (ACLED; Policy Center for the New South). Consequently, tensions escalated as both sides maneuvered for control over Sudan’s military apparatus and valuable economic resources, like oil fields (Wikipedia; Policy Center for the New South).

The conflict has led to further political and military fragmentation. While the SAF under al-Burhan claims legitimacy as the state’s protector, the RSF and its allies challenge this, even forming a pact for a rival government (Euronews). Both sides face international scrutiny. The U.S. has sanctioned both al-Burhan and Hemedti, citing abuses committed by forces under their command (Euronews). The RSF, particularly linked to its Janjaweed origins, faces widespread reports and accusations of ethnic cleansing and war crimes, especially in Darfur, though they deny allegations of genocide (Euronews; Wikipedia). Moreover, external actors, reportedly including Gulf states and Russia, have allegedly supplied arms, fueling the violence and making peace harder to achieve (International Rescue Committee; Policy Center for the New South).

El Obeid Siege and Broader Implications

The breaking of the RSF’s two-year siege on the city of El Obeid in North Kordofan state was a crucial victory for the SAF (Euronews). Achieved on February 23, 2025, this success came before the final push in Khartoum and likely boosted army morale. El Obeid is strategically important, serving as a major transport hub and commercial center. Lifting the siege allowed vital supplies to reach the population and the army garrison there. Thus, it represented a significant turning point in the war’s trajectory in that region, signaling the weakening of the RSF’s hold outside the capital.

Despite SAF gains, the broader picture remains deeply concerning, particularly regarding the international response. Global aid efforts have fallen critically short. Shockingly, only 5% of the UN’s humanitarian funding appeal for 2023/24 was met as of early reporting (International Rescue Committee). This massive shortfall, totaling about $2.56 billion, severely limits the ability of NGOs to provide life-saving assistance (International Rescue Committee; NCBI). Attacks on aid workers further complicate relief efforts. Diplomatic initiatives led by regional bodies like IGAD and Western partners have struggled, failing to enforce lasting ceasefires (International Rescue Committee; Policy Center for the New South). Regions like Darfur remain highly volatile, facing renewed ethnic tensions as both sides recruit local fighters, alongside compounded crises like flooding and disease outbreaks (Wikipedia; NCBI). Ultimately, the conflict’s devastating impact continues to ripple outwards, causing pain and anxiety across Sudan and the global diaspora.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Darius Spearman is a professor of Black Studies at San Diego City College, where he has been teaching since 2007. He is the author of several books, including Between The Color Lines: A History of African Americans on the California Frontier Through 1890. You can visit Darius online at africanelements.org.