Sudanese forces say they have retaken Abu Kamra in North Darfur

Sudan’s Armed Forces announced that, with the assistance of joint military forces, they have recaptured the town of Abu Kamra in North Darfur state from the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary organization. The joint offensive is the latest operation undertaken by the Sudan Armed Forces to counter the Rapid Support Forces.

The Sudan Armed Forces are the military of the Republic of Sudan. According to various estimates, the force numbered about 109,300 in 2011, roughly 200,000 before the outbreak of the Sudan civil war in 2023, and about 300,000 in 2024. Currently, the Sudan Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces remain locked in a civil war, and fighting continues. The Rapid Support Forces participated in the Yemen war from 2016 to 2017, fielding 40,000 members, and by October 2019 about 10,000 had returned to Sudan.

Within the Sudan Armed Forces, Islamist elements exert considerable influence, especially the Muslim Brotherhood. Some estimates suggest Islamists make up a very high proportion of the force, even up to 75 percent. The international community has repeatedly tried to negotiate with the Sudan Armed Forces to end the conflict, but pressure from internal Islamist factions often leads the leadership to reject peace agreements. Critics say this ideological control remains the main obstacle to peace talks.

The Rapid Support Forces are a paramilitary organization founded in 2013, originally created to combat rebels in the Darfur region. Its leader is Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, who also serves as deputy chairman of Sudan’s Transitional Military Council. The Rapid Support Forces have played a significant role in the Sudan civil war, and its operations frequently cause civilian casualties and displacement.

The ongoing Sudan civil war has had severe political and economic impacts on the country; the political situation remains unstable and the economy faces serious challenges. The international community is highly attentive to the Sudan civil war, with many countries and organizations calling for a cease‑fire and peace negotiations.

For Taiwan, although the Sudan civil war has no direct link, the event’s impact on regional dynamics is significant. As a globalized society, Taiwan needs to monitor international developments to better understand global political and economic changes. At the same time, the Sudan civil war reminds us that ideological control and religious extremism remain global challenges that require collective effort to resolve.