Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have imposed new restrictions on aid deliveries in territories under their control, worsening an already dire humanitarian crisis as famine spreads.
The RSF, locked in a two-year war with the Sudanese army, has demanded higher fees and greater oversight of aid operations, including control over recruitment and security processes. These new constraints are particularly severe in western Sudan, where famine is taking hold and millions are at risk of starvation. Aid workers say the RSF’s interference mirrors practices used by army-aligned authorities, further strangling access to essential supplies.
The war has displaced more than 12.5 million people, creating what the United Nations describes as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. Nearly half of Sudan’s 50 million population is suffering from acute hunger, with the highest risks in RSF-held territories. While both warring sides have been accused of blocking aid, relief organizations report that the RSF’s bureaucracy and financial demands have made their work nearly impossible.
The Sudan Agency for Relief and Humanitarian Operations (SARHO), which oversees aid efforts in RSF-controlled areas, introduced a controversial registration process for humanitarian groups, effectively forcing them to set up independent operations. Though SARHO agreed last month to temporarily suspend these measures, humanitarian workers say restrictions persist, leading to arbitrary delays and rejections of travel permits.
“The RSF’s increasing engagement with aid agencies gives them more leverage to impose fees and control,” said an aid worker, speaking to Reuters anonymously due to security concerns. Data from the Sudan INGO Forum shows that the proportion of organizations facing permit delays in RSF areas rose to 60% in January, up from 30% last year.
The restrictions are most devastating in Darfur, particularly around Al-Fashir, where the Sudanese army is holding its last stronghold in the region. Thousands of displaced people in camps such as Zamzam, Abu Shouk, and Al-Salam are already experiencing famine conditions. The RSF has also shelled some of these camps in recent weeks to drive out army-aligned forces.
“The situation in Zamzam camp is critical—we are hungry and scared,” said Haroun Adam, a 37-year-old displaced person. “People are eating leaves because there is no food.”
The UN has accused SARHO of obstructing aid, warning that its demands could lead to corruption and aid diversion. SARHO officials deny these allegations, insisting they are merely regulating relief efforts to ensure efficiency.
“The Sudanese government in Port Sudan is pressuring international organizations not to deal with SARHO,” said Abdelrahman Ismail, the agency’s head. He claimed SARHO was facilitating, not obstructing, humanitarian work.
The worsening humanitarian situation highlights broader concerns about Sudan’s future governance. The RSF, which claims to champion Sudan’s marginalized communities, has been accused of replicating the same exploitative tactics long used by the country’s previous rulers.
“This is a harbinger of what an RSF-led government would look like,” said Kholood Khair, a Sudan analyst and director of Confluence Advisory.
Meanwhile, military momentum has recently shifted, with the army reclaiming strategic areas in Khartoum, including the presidential palace. The battlefield’s shifting dynamics, coupled with aid blockages, continue to push Sudan deeper into crisis, leaving millions trapped between war and starvation.
