Timeline of the Sudanese civil war (2026)

1 January Hamid Ali Abubakar, the commander-in-chief of the RSF-aligned faction of the Sudanese Awakening Revolutionary Council (RAC) and concurrent security adviser to Hemedti, was killed in a drone strike on a meeting of RSF and allied commanders in Damrat al-Firdous, Central Darfur. 3 January The RSF carried out drone strikes on El-Obeid and White Nile State. An airstrike against a power station in El-Obeid left the city without electricity. Up to 64 civilians were killed in SAF airstrikes on Hemedti's hometown of Al Zorg that destroyed the town's hospital, and also killed two of Hemedti's relatives and local tribal leader Bashir Barma Baraka Allah. The RSF and allied groups claimed to have taken El Bardab, north of Kadugli. 4 January The Sudan Liberation Movement-Abdel Wahid (SLM-AW), a neutral rebel group, ordered the replacement of Sudanese state symbols with its own in the Liberated Areas in Central and North Darfur. 5 January The SAF claimed to have intercepted a drone attack by the RSF on Merowe. Thirteen people, including eight children, were killed in an RSF drone strike on a house in El-Obeid, according to the Sudan Doctors' Network. 7 January One soldier was killed in a suspected RSF drone strike on a Sudan Shield Forces (SSF) camp in the Butana plains in Gezira State. 9 January The RSF and its allies, the Sudan Liberation Forces Gathering and the Justice and Equality Movement, attacked positions of the Darfur Joint Protection Force (JDF) at the Chad–Sudan border. The SAF carried out airstrikes on RSF positions in Darfur and Kordofan. The SAF claimed 240 military vehicles were wrecked and hundreds of RSF members were killed. The SAF also claimed a Turkish Baykar Bayraktar Akıncı drone operated by the RSF was shot down over Nyala Airport. In South Kordofan, the SPLM-N (al-Hilu) said 13 civilians, including children, were killed in an airstrike on Um Jamina in Al-Sunut County. 10 January The JDF accused the RSF of killing and kidnapping 19 people in Jirjira, North Darfur. 11 January The SAF-aligned government announced its complete return to Khartoum, having operated in Port Sudan as the temporary capital since 2023. The SAF conducted strikes against a supply convoy in Yabus, Blue Nile State, near the Ethiopia–Sudan border. Five people were killed and 20 injured in an RSF drone strike on a market in Kartala, South Kordofan. 12 January At least 27 people were killed and 73 others were wounded by an RSF drone strike on an army base in Singa. The attack reportedly targeted a meeting between government and SAF officials at the base. The governors of White Nile, Sennar, and Blue Nile States were confirmed to have been in attendance, but survived the attack. 13 January The SAF and allied groups claimed to have retaken Jirjira from the RSF. 14 January The SAF repelled an attack by the RSF and SPLM-N (al-Hilu) near Al-Kuwaik, close to Kadugli. The RSF was accused of abducting 97 young men from a gold mine in Eyal Bakhit, West Kordofan. 15 January The RSF carried out a cross-border attack into Chad while pursuing a JDF unit that fled into the country, killing seven Chadian soldiers at the Birak garrison near Tiné Djagaraba. Twelve people were killed in an RSF drone strike on a market in Dalang, South Kordofan. The SPLM-N (al-Hilu) and the RSF claimed to have repelled an SAF attack on Habila, from Dalang. 18 January The SAF repelled a large scale RSF attack on Wadi al-Hout in North Kordofan. 20 January The Central Bank of Sudan announced the resumption of its operations in Khartoum for the first time since the civil war began. 21 January The RSF detained 17 Zaghawas from Mahajeriya in East Darfur, including the head of the rural court. 23 January Five people were killed in an SAF drone strike on a market in Abu Zaima, North Kordofan. 24 January Two people were killed in an RSF drone strike on Dalang. The RSF claimed to have shot down an SAF Bayraktar drone over the city. 26 January The SAF retook Habila and broke the siege of Dalang. 27 January Five people were killed in a drone strike on Dalang. 28 January Dozens of people were killed in an RSF drone strike on Dalang. 30 January The European Union imposed sanctions on seven individuals for their role in escalating the conflict in Sudan, including Hemedti's brother Major Algoney Hamdan Dagalo Musa, and Al-Misbah Abu Zaid Talha, commander of the SAF-allied Al-Bara' ibn Malik Battalion. The RSF carried out a drone attack on El-Obeid. == February ==

1 February A joint SAF-JDF force retook Al-Dashol, on the highway between Dalang and Kadugli. At least five people, including a senior RSF commander and a tribal leader, were killed in clashes with rival RSF factions in Khazan Jadid, East Darfur. 3 February The SAF said it had broken the RSF siege of Kadugli. Later that day, RSF drone strikes on the city killed 15 people. The RSF and SPLM-N (al-Hilu) seized the towns of Deim Mansour, Bashir Nuqu and Khor al-Budi near Kurmuk in Blue Nile state. 4 February One person was killed in an RSF drone strike on a military hospital in Kadugli. 5 February The United Kingdom imposed sanctions on six individuals over their role in sustaining the conflict, including three Colombians accused of recruiting mercenaries for the RSF, RSF field commander Hussein Barsham, and Sudan Shield Forces commander Abu Aqla Kikal. Twenty-two people were killed in an RSF drone strike on a military hospital in Kouik, South Kordofan. An SAF drone strike on a market in West Kordofan injured 11 people. 6 February At least one person was killed in a series of RSF drone strikes on truck convoys in North Kordofan. 7 February A RSF drone attack on a vehicle carrying displaced families near Er Rahad killed at least 24 people including eight children. The SAF repelled an RSF attack on Al-Silak. 8 February Three people were killed in an RSF drone strike on a vehicle carrying food supplies near Umm Ruwaba in North Kordofan. 10 February The SAF said it destroyed a FK-2000 air defense system and drones used by the RSF in Ed Dubeibat. 11 February Two people were killed in an RSF drone strike on a mosque in Er Rahad. 13 February Two people were killed in RSF drone strikes on al-Kurgal, South Kordofan. The SAF shelled the RSF and SPLM-N (Toka)-held towns of Malkon and Yabus, near the Ethiopian border in Blue Nile state. 14 February An unspecified number of civilian casualties occurred following drone strikes by the RSF and SPLM-N (Toka) in Qaysan, Blue Nile state. 15 February Three people were killed in an RSF drone strike on Al-Mazmoum Hospital in Sennar State. At least 28 people were killed in a drone strike on a market outside Sodari in North Kordofan. The SAF claimed to have destroyed an RSF air defence system in Abu Zabad, West Kordofan. 16 February At least 26 people were killed in a suspected SAF drone strike on a displacement shelter in El Sunut, West Kordofan. 18 February The World Food Programme delivered humanitarian aid to Dalang and Kadugli for the first time since 2024. One person was killed in an RSF drone strike on Kurmuk. 19 February The United States imposed sanctions on RSF commanders Elfateh Abdullah Idris Adam, Gedo Hamdan Ahmed and Tijani Ibrahim Moussa Mohamed for their actions at El Fasher. The three were added to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List. Three aid workers were killed in an RSF drone attack on a humanitarian aid convoy in Katala as it was travelling to Dalang and Kadugli. 21 February The RSF claimed to have taken Tina, along the border with Chad and North Darfur. The JDF denied the claim. 22 February RAC leader Musa Hilal, who was in conflict with the RSF, survived an RSF drone attack on his guest house in Mustariha, North Darfur. A separate attack on the town killed several RAC leaders and injured Hilal's son. 23 February The RSF attacked Mustariha, leaving 28 civilians dead. Chad imposed an indefinite closure of its border with Sudan after RSF fighters entered the country while fleeing from SAF forces in El Tina. 24 February The United Nations Security Council imposed sanctions on four RSF commanders, including Hemedti's brother Abdul Rahim Dagalo, Gedo Hamdan Ahmed, Elfateh Abdullah Idris Adam and Tijani Ibrahim Moussa Mohamed, for atrocities committed in El Fasher. 25 February The RAC announced Musa Hilal's arrival in SAF-controlled territory outside Darfur following the RSF attack on Mustariha. 26 February The RSF and SPLM-N carried out drone strikes on Geissan in Blue Nile state. 28 February Nine people were killed in RSF drone strikes on El-Obeid. == March ==

1 March The RSF and SPLM-N claimed to have taken the SAF garrison at al-Taqma, east of Dalang, and cut the road linking Dalang and Habila. 2 March Twelve people were injured in an RSF drone strike on the British Hospital in El-Obeid. 4 March Five people were killed by RSF and SPLM-N (al-Hilu) shelling in Dalang. Eighteen people were killed in an SAF airstrike on Muglad. killing seven people. The RSF claimed to have taken El Bardab, north of Kadugli. Twenty-eight people were killed by RSF shelling in Dalang. 7 March At least 34 people were killed in SAF drone strikes on Abu Zabad. 8 March Six people were killed in an SAF drone strike on a fuel market in Ed Daein, while 10 others were killed in a similar attack in Nyala. The SPLM-N (al-Hilu) said 17 people were killed in a separate SAF attack on a market in Jald, South Kordofan. 9 March The United States included the Islamic Movement in Sudan and its armed wing, the Al-Bara' ibn Malik Battalion, to its list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists. 10 March At least 52 people were killed in a suspected SAF drone strike on a civilian convoy near Al-Fulah, West Kordofan. Seven people were killed by RSF and SPLM-N (al-Hilu) shelling in Dalang. 11 March At least 17 people were killed in an RSF drone strike on a school in Shukeiri, White Nile State. At least 20 people were killed in an SAF drone strike on Abu Zabad. 12 March At least 11 people were killed drone strike on Adikong market in West Darfur, near the Chadian town of Adré. Médecins Sans Frontières attributed the attack to the SAF. The SAF claimed to have retaken Jort East and the Ballamo camp in Blue Nile state from the RSF and SPLM-N (Touka). 13 March Thirteen RSF militants, including a major general, were killed in an SAF drone strike on their convoy in Foro Baranga, West Darfur. 15 March Enagi Abdullah, a commander of the Islamist and pro-SAF paramilitary group Popular Resistance, was arrested after making remarks in support of Iran amid the 2026 Iran war that had been disavowed by the SAF-led government. 16 March The RSF retook Bara as well as Karnoi in North Darfur, near the border with Chad. The RSF claimed to have taken El Tina, which the JDF denied, adding that it had killed an RSF field commander during the attack. At least 17 people were reported killed in the fighting. 17 March The RSF burned a truck convoy transporting staple crops near En Nahud on its way to El-Obeid. 18 March The RSF was accused of killing 12 people in Shuraim Mima, north of Bara. A drone that originated from Sudan hit the Chadian border town of Tina, killing 17 people. 19 March The Chadian National Army carried out a security operation in Tine following the drone attack the previous day, resulting in the seizure of weapons and the arrest of several Sudanese refugees accused being JDF members. Chad also closed its border with Sudan. 20 March Seventy people were killed and 146 injured in an SAF airstrike on the Ed Daein Hospital. The attack left over two million people without proper medical coverage according to the World Health Organization. An RSF drone strike on Al Dabbah injured three people and hit a power station, causing blackouts. 24 March The RSF and SPLM-N (al-Hilu) took Kurmuk, near the Ethiopian border in Blue Nile State. The offensive displaced over 73,000 people. 25 March The RSF massacred 16 civilians in El Fasher. A drone strike in RSF-controlled Saraf Omra, North Darfur killed 22 people and injured 17. Six people were killed and 10 injured in a suspected RSF strike on a civilian truck in North Kordofan. 27 March SAF drones struck RSF positions amassed near Tina in North Darfur. Seven people were killed in an SAF airstrike on a funeral in Al-Sunut, South Kordofan. 28 March The SAF said it repelled an advance by the RSF and SPLM-N (al-Hilu) into the western and northern outskirts of Dalang. 29 March The SAF claimed to have repelled an RSF and SPLM-N attack on Al-Kaili in Blue Nile State, killing 94 fighters, capturing several others and destroying four combat vehicles. At least 14 people were killed following two days of shelling by the RSF and SPLM-N (al-Hilu) on Dalang. 30 March A pediatrician in Nyala was killed in an assault on his home by an RSF officer who was accompanied by several personnel. Osama Hassan, an official of the RSF-aligned Sudan Founding Coalition, was killed in SAF airstrikes on Nyala. ==April==

1 April Three people were injured in an RSF drone strike on a medical warehouse in Kosti. 2 April At least 12 people were killed in an RSF drone strike on Al-Jabalain hospital in White Nile State. The RSF raided the Al-Usra Hospital in Ed Daein, injuring medical staff. Yasser al-Atta was appointed Chief of Staff of the SAF, succeeding Othman al-Hussein. 6 April The SAF retook Al-Tukma from the RSF and SPLM-N (al-Hilu), reopening the road from Dalang to Habila. General al-Burhan issued a decree abolishing the positions of deputy commander and assistants to the commander-in-chief of the SAF. 8 April An SAF drone strike on a wedding in Kutum killed over 58 people and injured 100 more, including RSF members, and destroyed several homes. 11 April Four people were killed by RSF and SPLM-N (al-Hilu) on the central market of Dalang. RSF major general Al-Nour Ahmed Adam aka Al-Nour Guba defected to the SAF amid a dispute with other RSF commanders. 13 April Twenty people were killed following two days of SAF drone strikes across Darfur. 14 April Three people were killed in an SAF drone strike in West Darfur that hit the Adukong border crossing with Chad. 18 April The SAF and allied groups launched a major ground operation in North and South Kordofan, with the JDF claiming the recapture of Kazgeil and Al-Hammadi in North Kordofan from the RSF. Three people were killed in an SAF airstrike on a hospital in Geneina. 20 April The SAF claimed to have retaken Kurmuk from the RSF and SPLM-N (al-Hilu). 23 April Hemedti sentenced Major General Al-Nour Ahmed Adam, also known as Al-Nour Guba, to death in absentia following his defection from the RSF earlier in the month. 24 April A drone strike in North Darfur destroyed a vehicle transporting emergency shelter kits for the UNHCR to Tawila. 25 April Seven people were killed and 22 others were injured in an RSF drone strike in El Obeid. The RSF claimed to have taken Al-Kaili in Blue Nile State, while the SAF claimed to have repelled an RSF attack on Sali, destroying 36 combat vehicles and capturing two others. 27 April Fifteen people were injured in an SAF drone strike on the Hamidiya IDP camp in Zalingei. 28 April The UN imposed sanctions on Hemedti's brother Al-Goney Hamdan Dagalo, who is also the director of procurement for the RSF. == May ==

1 May The RSF carried out drone strikes on Jabal Awliya, El Obeid and Rahad al-Nuba. 2 May Five people were killed in an RSF drone strike on a vehicle outside Khartoum. A separate strike on the residence of SSF commander Abu Aqla Kaikal in Al-Kahli Zaidan, Gezira State, killed his brother and five other relatives. ==References==