In Sudan's capital, young militiamen, some as young as 15, patrol streets in pickup trucks equipped with missiles, a stark reminder of the origins of the ongoing conflict. Three years ago, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), once under state control, turned against the army, igniting a war that has reportedly claimed over 200,000 lives.

Currently, Sudan's army depends on a coalition of militias to maintain control, but many Sudanese fear this reliance may repeat past mistakes. "It's the same old mistakes, and it's only a matter of time before they turn on each other," said a 30-year-old Sudanese writer who requested anonymity for security reasons.

Among the numerous armed groups in army-controlled territory, three stand out as the most powerful: the Joint Forces, a coalition of former Darfuri rebel militias; the Sudan Shield Forces; and the RSF. Both the Joint Forces and Sudan Shield Forces previously rebelled against Khartoum but are now allied with the army against the RSF, described by Sudanese analyst Kholood Khair as a "common enemy."

The Sudan Shield Forces leader, Abu Aqla Kaykal, who broke from the RSF in 2024, has established "his own fiefdom where he has unchecked power," Khair noted, marking him as the most dangerous among the militias.

On the streets of Khartoum, militiamen are seen "walking around with their chests puffed out, like they're looking for trouble," according to a 40-year-old accountant. Civilians in army-controlled cities such as Port Sudan, Khartoum, and Wad Madani express wariness about the militias' loyalties and the potential for renewed violence.

During the 2018-19 uprising, RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, nicknamed "Hemeti," turned against then-president Omar al-Bashir, aiding in his overthrow and becoming the right-hand man to army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.

Despite these shifting alliances, the fear remains that the militias could eventually clash with each other or the army, perpetuating an endless cycle of war in Sudan.

Sources