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Explosive violence by the Rapid Support Forces

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (commonly known as Hemedti), emerged from the Janjaweed militias which helped the Sudanese military put down a rebellion in the 2000s. Their collaboration with the military continued evolving, from acting as border guards to supporting the military in Yemen, until in 2017 the RSF were legally recognised as an independent security force. After the ousting of dictator Omar al-Bashir in 2019, Hemedti entered into a power-sharing agreement within a ruling council headed by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the Commander in Chief of the Sudanese armed forces. The two carried out a coup in 2021, halting the transition to a democratic government, but growing tension between them erupted into a full-scale civil war in April 2023.

Over the past decade (2014-2023), AOAV has recorded 20 incidents of explosive weapons use attributed to the RSF, all of which occurred in Sudan. The RSF are the reported perpetrators of 386 civilian casualties (163 killed), and one armed actor fatality.

Ground-launched weapons account for 90% (349) of civilian casualties attributed to the RSF, in particular artillery shelling (212 civilian casualties), non-specific shelling (60), RPGs (54), ground-launched missiles (10), ground-launched rockets (7), and mortars (6).

The majority of civilian casualties were recorded in RSF attacks on urban residential areas, which account for 52% (200) of civilian casualties. Other locations impacted by attacks attributed to the RSF include markets (115 civilian casualties), public gatherings (29), multiple urban areas (28), hospitals (9), encampments (4), and transport related infrastructure (1).

24 Mar 2026

Counting the Dead: Explosive weapons’ devastating impact on civilians in Sudan

Sudan has become one of the world’s deadliest conflicts for civilians. Across towns and cities, high numbers of civilians have been killed or injured by explosive weapons. This article analyses data from Action on Armed Violence on casualties caused by explosive violence in Sudan, focusing on the sharp escalation in the use of explosive weapons in populated areas since the conflict began, producing high civilian casualty rates per incident of use.

29 Jun 2023

Khartoum: 14 killed and 217 injured in shelling between Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces during struggle for control of police headquarters, 25 June.

At least 14 civilians were killed and 217 injured during a battle for control of the Central Reserve Police headquarters in Khartoum.

12 May 2023

Escalating violence and civilian casualties in Sudan raise concerns of broadening conflict

Communal violence and escalating conflict between rival generals in Sudan, particularly in the far south and the restive Darfur region, have resulted in civilian deaths and raised concerns of a widening conflict across the country's frontier regions.

4 May 2023

Human Rights Watch report highlights grave violations amidst rising civilian casualties in Sudan

This report highlights the grave human rights violations and devastation caused by the use of explosive weapons in Sudan's armed conflict, emphasizing the urgent need for international action, including an arms embargo and targeted sanctions, to protect civilians, ensure accountability, and provide humanitarian assistance.

armed violence, explosive weapons, civilian harm, conflict zones, humanitarian impact, arms trade, UK defence, war reporting, casualty tracking, human rights, military accountability, public health and violence, post-conflict recovery, disarmament, international humanitarian law, AOAV, weapons regulation, urban warfare, conflict data analysis, security policy

29 Apr 2023

Who are the RSF paramilitary group fighting Sudan’s armed forces?

The ongoing conflict in Sudan's capital, Cartoon, stems from a power struggle between two generals, both lacking popular support, with roots tracing back to brutal government actions in Darfur two decades ago.