Sudan RSF Grows to 450,000 Fighters as Hemedti Warns of Decades-Long War
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of Sudan has grown into a force of approximately 450,000 fighters, its commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, widely known as Hemedti, has warned that the war could last for decades, according to reports from Sudan Tribune and Daily Sabah published in May 2026.
The RSF, which launched its offensive against the Sudanese Armed Forces in April 2023, has transformed from a paramilitary group into one of the largest de facto armies on the African continent. The force rapid expansion has been fueled by the recruitment of former Janjaweed militias, deserters from the Sudanese military, and foreign fighters drawn from various regional conflicts.
The Making of a 450,000-Strong Force
The RSF growth to 450,000 fighters represents a dramatic escalation from its original core of around 30,000-40,000 men who were officially integrated into Sudan security apparatus under the 2019 Juba Peace Agreement. Since the outbreak of full-scale war with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in April 2023, the RSF has absorbed multiple armed groups, including former Darfur militia commanders and, according to human rights organisations, children as young as 14.
UN monitors and independent researchers have documented how RSF units across Darfur, Kordofan, and Khartoum have swelled with fighters equipped with arms sourced through complex supply networks spanning Libya, the UAE, and Russian private military contractors. Despite international sanctions imposed on its commanders, the RSF has maintained a robust supply chain for weapons, vehicles, and communications equipment.
Hemedti Warning: A Decades-Long Conflict
In recorded statements reported by Sudan Tribune, Hemedti said his forces were prepared to wage the war until final victory, raising the prospect of a prolonged conflict that could redefine the entire Horn of Africa. His comments came amid intensified fighting around Khartoum and in the shattered region of Darfur, where entire cities have been reduced to ruins.
The RSF commander also threatened to establish parallel governing structures in areas under his forces control, echoing a strategy previously employed during the group capture of much of Greater Khartoum. International mediators have warned that any such move would further complicate efforts to achieve a ceasefire and could potentially partition Sudan de facto.
International Response and Humanitarian Crisis
The United States, European Union, and African Union have repeatedly called for an end to the war, which has triggered one of the worst humanitarian crises in recent memory. An estimated 12 million people have been displaced, while famine conditions have been officially declared in several regions, including parts of Darfur and South Kordofan.
Despite a series of ceasefire negotiations – most recently in Jeddah and through IGAD mediation in Nairobi – neither the RSF nor the SAF has shown willingness to halt hostilities. The RSF growing strength on the battlefield has further reduced the incentive for its leadership to negotiate.
Regional powers are increasingly alarmed by what analysts describe as a potential prolonged stalemate with partitionist undertones. Sudan war has also deepened fault lines with Ethiopia, where diplomatic relations have deteriorated sharply following drone strikes that Sudan attributes to Ethiopian support for the RSF.
Conclusion
With the RSF now commanding a force of 450,000 fighters and its leader threatening a decades-long campaign, Sudan appears to be hurtling toward a partitioned future with no diplomatic solution in sight. The international community options are narrowing as the conflict expands beyond Sudan borders, drawing in regional rivals and creating new security threats across East and North Africa.
