Sudan News Sweep - Tue 25 to Thu 27 March 2025
RSF eradicated from Khartoum and troops flee to the west; SPLM-IO says the Revitalised Peace Agreement is over following the arrest of Vice President Machar in Juba; the region is on the brink of war.
CONFLICT DYNAMICS AND ONGOING VIOLENCE:
The RSF has reportedly been eradicated from Khartoum. Burhan, leader of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) declared that the state had been “liberated” on Wed 26 Mar. On Tuesday, activists had reported mass withdrawals of RSF fighters from Khartoum towards Jebel Aulia in the south and footage on Wednesday showed their retreat towards the west of Sudan. SAF bombed RSF positions across the capital on Mon 24 Mar. An RSF drone strike killed 11 people during evening prayers at Radwan Mosque in Sharg el-Nil on Sun 23 Mar. For footage of the extensive destruction of Khartoum, see Sudan War Monitor.
SOUTH SUDAN
The SPLM-IO today announced that the Revitalised Peace Agreement from 2018 has been “abrogated” (revoked). This was announced in response to the house arrest of Vice President Machar in Juba on Wednesday night in a further move that threatens to collapse the 2018 peace agreement. President Kiir ordered an end to all military operations in South Sudan on the same day that SAF recaptured Khartoum. The U.S. urged President Kiir to release Machar. The humanitarian impact of both Sudan and South Sudan experiencing civil war would be catastrophic, especially as international donors are already failing to fund the humanitarian response in Sudan. The UN aid appeal for Sudan and South Sudan for 2025 are both barely 10% funded.
Clashes occurred near Juba between the SPLM-IO and and the South Sudan People’s Defences Forces (SSPDF), and in Tonga, Upper Nile State late on Tue 25 Mar. Preliminary reports suggest that at least two SSPDF soldiers were killed. Security forces in Rumbek, Lake State in South Sudan arrested senior officials including the Deputy Governor, Dr. Akol, and closed the office of the SPLM-IO on Mon 24 Mar. Dr. Akol was detained a day after condemning SSDPF and Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) strikes. Residents in Juba fear escalating tensions could lead to full-scale conflict. Norway closed its embassy in Juba.
Vice President Machar urged the UN, African Union, and IGAD to intervene and facilitate dialogue with President Kiir. In the letter addressed to the heads of the UN, AU Peace and Security Council, and IGAD on 23 Mar, Machar called for the withdrawal of Ugandan forces and highlighted that Uganda may be in violation of UN Security Council arms embargo on South Sudan. South Sudan summoned Sudan’s Ambassador on Monday in response to Yasir Al-Atta’s statement. South Sudan’s Minster of Defence and Veteran Affairs said that Atta’s comments reflect “intentions to undermine regional peace and stability” and called Sudan “ungrateful”.
HUMAN RIGHTS:
The UN human rights chief, Volker Turk, condemned SAF’s deadly market attack that killed hundreds of civilians in Tora, North Darfur, and called for the protection of civilians. Volker shared that “13 of those killed belonged to a single family” and that the RSF had been arbitrarily arresting and detaining civilians in Tora following the attack. The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami also condemned the attacks in Tora and Al Malha and called for the “safe and unhindered passage for civilians seeking to flee areas of active conflict”. 15,000 households were displaced from Al Malha, says UN IOM.
Port Sudan authorities lifted their ban on Al-Sharq news channel on Mon 24 Mar. The Saudi-owned channel was suspended in February after reporting on SAF’s proposed constitutional amendments.
HUMANITARIAN IMPACTS:
Recent violence in North Darfur has displaced over 75,000 people, says the UN. UNICEF reports that an estimated 900,000 people are trapped in El Fasher and 750,000 in Zamzam, Sudan’s largest camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs). Of these, half are children (825,000). 15 million children in Sudan are in need of humanitarian assistance, says UNICEF. “Last month alone, nearly half of all reported attacks on healthcare facilities in Sudan took place in Darfur” said the UN.
Women in Hasahisa IDP camp report being shelled and losing everything including their homes. One woman, speaking to MSF, shared that “Now I have nothing – no food no clothes, not even a bottle to carry water.” The MSF-supported Zalingei Teaching Hospital is the only hospital for secondary health services for an estimated 500,000 people in Central Darfur.
POLITICS, PEACE, ECONOMICS:
The RSF will lead the parallel government’s Sovereign Council with the SPLM-N Al-Hilu taking the deputy role. Sources told Sudan Tribune that the RSF will have roughly 40% of positions in the parallel government, SPLM-N Al-Hilu will have 30%, and the remaining 30% will be spread across other members of the Sudan Founding Alliance. The Council will have 15 members.
INTERNATIONAL DYNAMICS:
Chadian military aircrafts flew over the Sudan border near Tine on Mon 24 Mar amidst escalating tensions between the countries. The Chadian government condemned the SAF threat to bomb Chadian airports as a “declaration of war if actions follow”. Chad also reiterated its right to respond with force to any act of aggression against its territory.
Sudan’s Foreign Minister, Ali Youssif, criticised European countries for being part of the upcoming ministerial conference in the UK scheduled for mid-April which the Port Sudan authorities are not invited to but the UAE is. Youssif shared the criticism during the German Special Envoy’s trip to Port Sudan on Wed 16 Mar.