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Rapid Support Forces
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<p>The Rapid Support Forces is a <a href="/facts/Paramilitary/mevWLG3M">paramilitary</a> force formerly operated by the <a href="/facts/Government_of_Sudan/1FIa0Bwt">government of Sudan</a>. The RSF grew out of, and is primarily composed of, the <a href="/facts/Janjaweed/HsFRUte2">Janjaweed</a> militias which previously fought on behalf of the Sudanese government. </p><p>RSF has been administered by the <a href="/facts/General_Intelligence_Service_(Sudan)/5wxqTfs5">National Intelligence and Security Service</a>, while during military operations it has been commanded by the <a href="/facts/Sudanese_Armed_Forces/v6XX2Wca">Sudanese Armed Forces</a> (SAF). As of June 2019, the commander is General <a href="/facts/Hemedti/kbPhJTeD">Hemedti</a> (Muhamed Hamdan Dagalo). During the <a href="/facts/2018%25E2%2580%259319_Sudanese_protests/kLDorvL3">Sudanese political crisis of 2019</a>, the <a href="/facts/2019_Sudanese_coup_d%2527%25C3%25A9tat/hEQz9LVq">military junta</a> that took control of the country employed the RSF to violently crack down on pro-democracy demonstrators. Along with other security forces, RSF carried out the <a href="/facts/Khartoum_massacre/8JGwH6WS">Khartoum massacre</a> on 3 June 2019. </p><p>On 15 April 2023, <a href="/facts/Sudanese_civil_war_(2023%25E2%2580%2593present)/IQqvzG31">fighting broke out between the RSF and the SAF</a> after the RSF mobilized its forces in cities across Sudan, including in Darfur. The SAF has designated the RSF a rebel group. RSF forces are now in control of territory across Sudan, mostly in the south and west. </p><p>The Rapid Support Forces announced the formation of a parallel <a href="/facts/Government_of_Peace_and_Unity/LybeJyzs">Government of Peace and Unity</a> to administer the areas of Sudan under their control on 15 April 2025. Its actions in <a href="/facts/Darfur/g6NlXSgc">Darfur</a> were deemed <a href="/facts/Crimes_against_humanity/N4nRKINC">crimes against humanity</a> by <a href="/facts/Human_Rights_Watch/X265jj8r">Human Rights Watch</a> and declared as <a href="/facts/Genocide/IjkNvg7y">genocide</a> by the <a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5">United States</a>. </p>