"In late October, a paramilitary force in Darfur, western Sudan, known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), closed in on full control of the city of Al‑Fashir after an 18-month siege, forcing the government army to retreat and surrounding thousands of troops. The takeover raises fears of a de-facto split of Sudan along east-west lines, with Darfur becoming a base for RSF's parallel authority, and the conflict potentially escalating further nationwide."
"Military conflict throughout Africa is nothing new, but one African nation leads all the others with the size of its tank army. Combat tanks in Africa are a key component of a military's strength and can help maintain the peace in volatile areas. Modern tanks are faster, more agile, and technologically advanced than the old workhorses of World War I which could only reach speeds of less than five miles per hour."
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) advanced to near-total control of Al‑Fashir in late October after an 18-month siege, forcing government forces to retreat and surrounding thousands of troops. The RSF takeover raises fears of a de-facto east-west split of Sudan, with Darfur potentially serving as a base for RSF parallel authority and the conflict escalating nationwide. Tens of thousands of civilians have been displaced, many appear detained by the RSF, and reports of possible reprisals are mounting. RSF agreed to a humanitarian truce proposed by a U.S.-led mediator group known as the Quad. Separately, four African countries—Morocco, Algeria, Eritrea, and Egypt—lead the continent in tank numbers, with rankings based on the 2024 Global Firepower Military Strength data and supplemental vehicle, artillery, and MLRS figures; countries without tanks were excluded.
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