Sudan’s civil war has taken a dramatic turn, with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) advancing significantly across the Kordofan region, amid ongoing concerns about targeted attacks on minority groups (Read more).
Simultaneously, the United States has imposed new sanctions on senior Sudanese army officials following accusations of chemical weapons use against civilians—a charge Sudan’s government denies as “baseless political blackmail.”
Military shifts: RSF’s Kordofan offensive
At dawn on Thursday, RSF fighters captured the strategic city of Al-Debeibat in South Kordofan after intense battles that inflicted heavy losses on the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), including fatalities and destroyed military vehicles. Al-Debeibat is a critical hub linking North and South Kordofan and extending toward East Darfur, amplifying the RSF’s operational reach.
The paramilitary group also secured Al-Hammadi, a town along the Al-Obeid–Al-Debeibat–Dilling route, further disrupting SAF supply lines. In West Kordofan’s Al-Khuwei, a three-pronged RSF assault resulted in full control of the town and the seizure of tanks, artillery, and ammunition. Meanwhile, in North Kordofan, local sources confirmed RSF dominance over Umm Sumaymah, a logistical node connecting multiple fronts .
United States sanctions and chemical weapons allegations
Politically, Washington announced new sanctions following verified reports that the Sudanese army used chemical weapons against civilians in 2024 during its conflict with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces—an act deemed a violation of international humanitarian law. The US State Department described the sanctions as part of ongoing efforts to ensure accountability for war crimes (Read the full U.S. State Department release) and The Arab Weekly covers the US determination here.
Efective June 6, the sanctions will limit US exports and suspend access to government-backed credit lines. However, their overall impact may be constrained, as both SAF leader Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti) are already subject to previous sanctions..
Sudan’s government dismissed the allegations as a “fabricated narrative,” accusing the United States of complicity with the RSF and its alleged backer, UAE (Explore Sudan’s lawsuit against the UAE).
These military and diplomatic developments are reshaping Sudan’s conflict landscape, with rising pressure on the army and the RSF expanding its control over strategic areas, signaling a potential escalation in the weeks ahead.
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