Sudan’s Army moves to dissolve RSF and declares insurgent status after deadly clashes
The army chief, Abdelfata al Burhan, ordered on Monday the dissolution of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their designation as an insurgent group against the state. The decision followed clashes on Saturday that resulted in the deaths of nearly a hundred civilians and left many wounded among both civilians and armed forces.
The Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, “As a result of the RSF revolt, the Chairman of the Sovereign Transitional Council and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces decided to dissolve the RSF and declare an insurgent group against the State, and action will be taken accordingly.”
The government condemned RSF attacks on military positions in Khartoum and other cities, including an assault on al Burhan’s residence on Saturday. This came just ahead of a planned meeting between the army commander and RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, according to the state news agency SUNA.
In a briefing, the spokesperson described the situation as evidence of “bad faith” by the RSF and asserted that the army had acted to uphold national security and stability. He claimed the armed forces defeated the rebels, inflicted heavy losses in life and equipment, and forced many rebels to surrender or flee the battlefield.
Officials noted that all mediation efforts—national, regional, and international—that urged RSF command to integrate into the armed forces had failed due to the leadership’s intransigence. The army spokesperson framed the conflict as a war strategy focused on minimizing civilian casualties when possible.
The Sudanese Foreign Ministry added that competent authorities would take all necessary measures, even as it warned that it would take time to end RSF control over government facilities and to protect the premises and staff at accredited diplomatic missions in Khartoum.
The ministry also expressed appreciation for the international community’s efforts to help defuse the situation, while stressing that it remained an internal matter that should be resolved by Sudanese people and their authorities without external interference.
Spokesperson Nabil Abdullah later confirmed that the army had regained control of the Sudanese radio and television building, resuming operations after a suspension around 12:00 local time on Sunday. The RSF claimed they were inspecting the facilities.
RSF representatives urged the army not to follow orders from al-Burhan, accusing him of acting in concert with those seeking to restore the old regime, including former president Omar Hassan al-Bashir, who was ousted in 2019 after a coup.
On social media, RSF accounts asserted their commitment to safeguarding all prisoners in their custody and ensuring medical care for the injured. They also expressed gratitude for the stance of national forces, political parties, civil society, and organizations that spoke out against what they described as injustice and oppression. They urged continued efforts against what they called a coup plot and lamented a return to darkness.
Hours earlier, Hemedti had called for international intervention against what he described as crimes by Abdelfatá al Burhan, whom he labeled a radical Islamist responsible for a brutal crackdown on the innocent.
Hemedti framed the RSF as standing against radical Islamists who allegedly want to keep Sudan isolated and out of democracy. He vowed to continue pressuring al Burhan to bring him to justice, noting that the RSF has historically been allied with the army while portraying itself as defending democratic progress for the Sudanese people. Families remain missing, underscoring the ongoing volatility.
Over the weekend, prominent civil organizations and political parties urged more than an end to conflict. They called for a halt to the militarization of Sudan’s public sphere that has persisted since the overthrow of Omar Hassan al-Bashir four years ago, a period marked by a popular role for civilians in initiating change during a revolution.
Before the current crisis, Sudan was governed by a junta led by the army’s top commander, who coordinated with the RSF’s leadership. Differences over the future integration of the paramilitary into a unified army—an agreement discussed before the formation of a civilian-led government—deepened and ultimately escalated into the present conflict. This standstill reflects competing visions for Sudan’s security apparatus and democratic transition, with civilians calling for a return to civilian rule and greater transparency in security matters.