An open conflict erupted over the weekend between Sudans two highest-ranking generals, intensifying an already volatile situation in a country that has been at the centre of global power struggles involving the Middle East, the United States, and Russia. This vicious competition between Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Lt. Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo is expected to exacerbate Sudans already dismal economic and humanitarian situation while hindering the planned transition to civilian authority.Military vs RSFOn Sunday, the Sudanese military, led by Gen. Burhan, engaged in intense fighting with the state-sponsored Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by Gen. Dagalo, in various sections of the country, including the capital Khartoum. Residents reported gunfire, artillery exchanges, and air force bombings on RSF positions located close to residential areas.Military planes were spotted flying low over Khartoum, while plumes of smoke could be seen rising in several locations on the ground. Conflicts between the military and the RSF have also been reported in the eastern Al Qadarif region, the western Darfur region, and the Red Sea seaport of Port Sudan.How deadly is the war escalatingAs of early Sunday, at least 56 civilians had been killed, and almost 600 others had been injured, according to the Committee of Sudanese Doctors, an association of medical professionals. However, because numerous sections of the country remain inaccessible to emergency personnel, determining the exact number of victims is challenging. According to the World Food Programme, three of its employees were murdered, two more were injured in Darfur, and one of their planes was damaged at Khartoums international airport.Rabie Tot, a 29-year-old IT professional who lives near Khartoum University with his wife and two children, recounted hearing gunfire throughout the night and morning and having difficulty sleeping as a result. “Its terrifying,” he said.Response of the international community to the situation in SudanThe UN Security Council, the African Union, the United States, and the European Union have all urged an end to the bloodshed in Sudan, located on the Red Sea between Egypt and Ethiopia. Following an emergency meeting on Sunday, the AU warned against any outside activities that could escalate the situation in Sudan and announced the dispatch of a field delegation to the country to interact with impacted parties.US Secretary of State Antony Blinken disclosed that he had spoken with his counterparts in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, both of which have major economic and political ties to Sudan. Mr Blinken said, “The deadly fighting between Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Security Forces…endangers the safety and security of Sudanese civilians and weakens efforts to restore Sudans democratic transformation.”The power struggle of two powerful GeneralsGeneral Burhan and his deputy, General Dagalo, have been Sudans de facto rulers for numerous years. Both generals rose to prominence during the long-term dictatorship of Omar al-Bashir and were instrumental in brutally repressing a rebellion in the southwestern Darfur province. After months of pro-democracy protests, they overthrew Mr Bashir in 2019. They removed a civilian-led transitional administration established to direct Sudan towards free and fair elections two years later.Recently, Gens. Burhan and Dagalo have been battling for control of Sudans armed forces and crucial sectors of the economy, such as agriculture and gold mining, which are currently controlled by the military and RSF. On Tuesday, their ruling junta failed to meet the deadline agreed upon with the United Nations, the United States, and other foreign nations for restoring civilian power following the 2021 coup.Experts have warned that if the violence continues and talks with civilian leaders are not resumed soon, Sudan may descend into another civil war. This might exacerbate the situation in a region already troubled by an Islamist insurgency in Somalia and where warring factions in Ethiopia have just recently achieved a peace agreement.
