Hemetti, RSF commander; Darfur-born power broker in Sudan's war
The Sudanese conflict continues as RSF-aligned forces in Darfur and Kordofan are blamed for civilian harm, with new drone and village attacks worsening humanitarian conditions amid calls for ceasefire and restraint.
Kenya is weighing formal investigations into RSF crimes abroad under universal jurisdiction, following a 12-victim complaint detailing torture, sexual violence and killings around Khartoum between 2023 and 2025. The filing marks a historic use of Kenya’s legal framework and could set a precedent for accountability beyond borders.
Drone strikes around El Obeid in North Kordofan have escalated, targeting fuel depots, water points and humanitarian aid convoys. The city, housing hundreds of thousands and thousands of displaced, faces risk of a Darfur-style catastrophe as both SAF and RSF intensify operations. International agencies warn civilians face escalating harm amid access challenges and potential siege.
Amnesty International has documented crimes against humanity during the RSF siege of el-Fasher in North Darfur, including murder, torture, sexual violence, and forced displacement. The report relies on interviews with 247 victims and witnesses between 2024 and 2025 and calls for a nationwide ceasefire and an international civilian protection force.
The UN Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan has found that the RSF’s siege of El Fasher in Darfur, and related abuses, include killings, mass rape and deliberate starvation. The findings build on February’s report and warn that similar patterns are emerging around El Obeid as RSF forces mass around the city. Leaders say the international community must act to prevent further catastrophe.
The Port Sudan court has convicted RSF leader Daglo (Hemedti) and 15 other senior RSF figures of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in absentia. The ruling also targets RSF assets and seeks Interpol notices for arrest. The case centers on the June 2023 killings in El Geneina and related atrocities against the Masalit community. The verdict marks the first conviction of RSF leadership since the conflict began in 2023.
Drones have targeted civilian sites in Darfur amid ongoing clashes between the Sudanese army and RSF. Emergency Lawyers report casualties at a customary court in Garra al-Zawaya, North Darfur, while authorities warn of mass atrocities and widespread displacement across the region.
Fighting and humanitarian collapse intensify in Sudan’s North Kordofan as El Obeid faces encirclement, displacement rises, and aid deliveries struggle amid funding gaps. Civilians seek safety while the UN and partners press for de-escalation and sustained access.
The African Union Peace and Security Council has returned to Khartoum to press for a ceasefire, humanitarian access, and a Sudanese-led political process. The SAF has recaptured parts of Khartoum and central Sudan, while RSF remains entrenched in Darfur. Preparations for a broad national dialogue are underway with regional and civil society actors, amid ongoing fighting and shifting alliances.
Warfare in Blue Nile State has escalated as RSF fighters and allied SPLM-N forces seize Kurmuk while the army withdraws. Drones and artillery have battered the town, causing new displacements as the conflict widens along border routes with Ethiopia.
Sudan’s military-led dialogue effort is framed by competing views: some chair a process inside Sudan aimed at ending the war and delivering peace, while others demand transitional justice and broad participation. Officials stress guarantees for participants, while critics warn that past dialogue efforts failed to address root causes and civilian protections.
New shifts in battlefield control mark a widening conflict as the army secures roads in North Kordofan while RSF forces gain in Blue Nile. Defections from RSF are accelerating as the army absorbs fighters, even as reports of alleged abuses surface and humanitarian risks rise.