COMMON ANALYSIS
Last update: June 2025
Map 1. Sudan. Approximate Territorial Control as of March 2025, Political Geography Now. Source: COI Update 2025 based on the map produced by Thomas van Linge, url.
Sudan was divided into areas controlled by the SAF and the RSF, with local armed groups also holding regional territories:
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SAF: The group controlled the north, east, and most of southeast of the country, including Port Sudan. They also retained control of Sennar city and parts of El Fasher (North Darfur) in coordination with allies. Additionally, they held most of Omdurman and, since March 2025, have regained control of the capital Khartoum and key strategic locations. Between January and March 2025, the SAF retook Wad Madani and most of the Al Jazirah state’s territory as well as most of Sennar state from the RSF.
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RSF: Since the end of 2023, the RSF is in control of all Darfur states except for the state capital of El Fasher (North Darfur) and some parts of North Darfur. They also held large areas in West and North Kordofan. In addition, the RSF extended control in Al Jazirah, though the SAF retook it in January 2025. The RSF used to control key cities in Sennar state, recaptured by the SAF in late 2024.
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Other groups: The Sudan Liberation Movement Abdel Wahid al-Nur (SLM-AW) controlled parts of Jebel Marra, and the SPLM-N-al-Hilu held areas in Blue Nile and parts of the Nuba Mountain region in South Kordofan. The conflict saw shifting control and ongoing offensives by both primary factions. The situation should always be assessed in light of the most up-to-date COI available.