Sudan is once again in crisis as violent clashes erupt between the Sudanese armed forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the capital city of Khartoum. The clashes come amidst a tenuous transition to democracy following a military coup that saw former president Omar al-Bashir ousted from power.

The recent fighting is a power struggle playing out between two groups that were once allied and, in theory, supposed to merge. The military, led by the country’s president, Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, is clashing with the RSF, led by the country’s vice president, Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, who is widely known by his nickname, Hemedti.

Tensions have risen in recent weeks because of disagreements about, among other things, an agreement to integrate the RSF into the military. With an air force and experience fighting in urban areas, the military is better positioned over the RSF, experts say. However, the RSF is more than just a militia; it has long-standing roots in Sudan, with a history that includes accusations of rape and pillaging of villages in the western Darfur region since the 2000s. The group is heavily armed and is estimated to have about 100,000 members.

The fighting, which some experts described as the worst in the history of the country, has since intensified, and the situation on the ground remains volatile. The thick cloud of smoke captured in the footage by @ayman_amin on 18th April, 2023 allegedly coming from a fire at the General Command is a clear indication of the severity of the situation.

The crisis began on Saturday with clashes between the two groups after months of rising tensions over the power-sharing agreement. The attempted transition to democracy has been marred by violence and political instability, with civilians bearing the brunt of the violence. Credit to: @ayman_amin