At Least 26 Killed and 103 Wounded in Fighting Between Sudan’s Army and Paramilitary Force

KHARTOUM, Sudan – At least 26 people were killed and 103 wounded in fighting Saturday between Sudan’s army and a powerful paramilitary force, according to the Sudan Doctors’ Syndicate. The violence occurred in areas around the country, including the capital city, Khartoum and its sister city Omdurman.

The paramilitary force, known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), is led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, a former leader of Sudan’s notorious Janjaweed forces. In 2007, Sudan’s then-dictator Omar al-Bashir formalized the group into a paramilitary force known as the Border Intelligence Units.

Dagalo’s rise to power began in Sudan’s Darfur conflict in the early 2000s. At the time, he was the leader of the Janjaweed forces, which were implicated in human rights violations and atrocities. In the face of international outcry, al-Bashir formalized the group into the RSF.

The fighting on Saturday began with explosions that rocked the Sudanese capital, days after the army warned the country was at a “dangerous” turning point. Heavy smoke bellowed above buildings in the vicinity of the Khartoum’s airport.

The RSF is a preeminent paramilitary group in Sudan, and Dagalo’s career has been both illustrious and deeply contentious. It remains unclear what sparked the violence on Saturday, and the Sudan Doctors’ Syndicate has called for an independent investigation into the incident.