Sudan Civil War Escalates with RSF Control of Darfur Amidmass Killings and Humanitarian Crisis

Sudan's civil war, ongoing since April 2023, remains devastating with no resolution in sight as fighting between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) intensifies. The RSF has recently taken control of Darfur's capital, el-Fasher, after an 18-month siege, unleashing mass killings and human rights abuses against civilians, contributing to what the United Nations calls the world's largest humanitarian crisis. The conflict has killed over 150,000 people, displaced millions, and drawn in foreign backers, while also being fueled by the RSF's control over lucrative illicit markets like gold, which finances continued violence. Despite weak international efforts to mediate, the war persists as both sides vie for strategic dominance, with the RSF poised to capture key cities such as el-Obeid. The humanitarian situation is dire, with tens of thousands trapped, and atrocities including executions and attacks on medical facilities reported. This prolonged conflict underscores a complex political economy of war where economic interests and external patronage sustain the violence at great human cost.