In Sudan, fighting has broken out between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces – two rival groups within the country’s government in a struggle to take control of it. Since the conflict began on April 15, many civilians have been killed and injured; these citizens have been caught in the violent struggle for control in Sudan’s capital as it spreads to other cities. United States Special Forces launched a successful evacuation of the American embassy in Khartoum, and all U.S. citizens have been advised to leave the country.

In 2019, the army forced former Sudanese president Omar Al-Bashir to step down after months of nationwide anti-corruption protests. As a replacement, Sudan’s citizens and military leaders signed an accord designed to have them share power during a three-year transitional period. The temporary government was supposed to be replaced by complete civilian rule, with elections slated for 2023. All progress toward a democratic future was halted, however, when a joint coup attempt by SAF General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, destabilized the nation in October 2021. 

Burhan and Dagalo’s partnership in the coup was short-lived, and a preliminary deal between the two to once again replace military rule with civilian leaders went unsigned in December 2021. Their emerging political and personal rivalry, as well as the respective military forces at each leader’s disposal, is the source of this new conflict. Burhan considers the RSF to be a rebel force while Dagalo blames Sudan’s social and political turmoil on the actions of Burhan.

The RSF mobilized troops into Khartoum without the city’s approval in April, which further escalated tensions with the SAF. As of April 30, 528 people have lost their lives and 4,500 have suffered injuries due to this conflict.