Key Players in Sudan's Civil Conflict

An exploration of El Fasher's fall and the ongoing turbulence in Sudan, examined through an expert's lens.

In a bid to quell Sudan's civil unrest, former President Donald Trump announced U.S. intervention at the behest of Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The conflict, marred by severe violations of human rights on both sides, reached a critical juncture with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) seizing El Fasher, effectively bisecting the nation between this paramilitary entity and the Sudanese military.

Central to this violent struggle are two key figures: Sudanese military leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and Rapid Support Forces head, Muhammad Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti.

To gain insights into the conflict, host Noel King of Today, Explained, spoke with Alex DeWaal, Executive Director of the World Peace Foundation at Tufts. With over four decades of experience studying Sudan, DeWaal describes the two leaders as outcomes of a longstanding cycle of violence engulfing the nation. Note that the podcast conversation has been abridged for clarity and length.

For a deeper exploration, listen to the full episode of Today, Explained, available on platforms like Apple Podcasts, Pandora, and Spotify.

Over recent years, the residents of El Fasher—a mosaic of varied groups—initially attempted to remain neutral. However, neutrality proved untenable, leading them to align with the government, rendering El Fasher the last Darfur holdout against the RSF. Just weeks ago, the RSF overwhelmed this bastion.

For a year and a half, El Fasher's populace existed in a state of dread, recalling previous terror in El Geneina, near Chad's frontier, where the RSF executed horrific massacres. Daily life became a nightmare under targeted drone strikes that indiscriminately assaulted hospitals and clinics. As the paramilitaries invaded, they conducted brutal house raids, murdering the men, and assaulting women and girls while capturing the violence for their sadistic amusement.

General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, a career officer, has a multifaceted past. He was involved in the brutal Darfur conflict two decades ago and led a Sudanese force backed financially by Saudi Arabia and the UAE while deployed in Yemen. His involvement spans various profitable ventures.

Within a fractious coalition, Burhan relies on ruthless Islamist factions for their financial backing and elite troops. These elements often counter Burhan's peace overtures, displaying open hostility towards any ceasefire discussions.

Proclaiming himself as Sudan's government authority, Burhan gained recognition from the United Nations, albeit questionably, as he strives to restore a past order—an order that seven years ago catalyzed civilian uprisings.

On the opposite side, we have Muhammad Hamdan Dagalo, known colloquially as Hemedti. Originally identified in African Union reports 20 years ago, he was associated with the Janjaweed militias who perpetrated genocide in Darfur. Hemedti later emerged as an adept military leader and accumulated substantial wealth through gold mining.

Hemedti's aims deviate from state reconstruction. He envisions transferring power into familial control, essentially running Sudan with private military and commercial empires.

Although proclaiming democratic values and support for marginalized groups, Hemedti's forces have executed egregious acts, from the vicious looting in Khartoum to severe offenses in El Fasher, furthering the genocidal objectives.

Reflecting on decades of war-shaped leadership, Alex DeWaal recalls speaking with an elderly nomadic sheikh 40 years ago. The sheikh lamented the impending collapse of their traditional lifestyle under environmental and economic pressures. His son later became a Janjaweed leader, replaced by Hemedti's aggressive maneuvers. Such narratives trace the harsh transformation of Sudan's political landscape across generations, continually shaped by perpetual conflict.