The following is a timeline of the Sudanese civil war (2023–present) in 2023.
This timeline is a dynamic and fluid list, and as such may never satisfy criteria of completeness. Moreover, some events may only be fully understood and/or discovered in retrospect.
April 2023 15 April Khartoum
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched attacks on multiple Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) bases across the country, including in the capital Khartoum. At 12:00 (CAT), RSF forces claimed to have captured Khartoum International Airport, Merowe Airport, El Obeid Airport as well as a base in Soba. Clashes between the RSF and the SAF erupted at the Presidential Palace and at the residence of de facto leader and SAF commander General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, with both sides claiming control over the two sites.
In response, the SAF announced the closure of all airports in the country. and the Sudanese Air Force conducted airstrikes on RSF positions in Khartoum with artillery fire being heard in parts of the city.
Elsewhere in Khartoum clashes were reported at the headquarters of the state broadcaster Sudan TV. The channel halted a news bulletin after the presenter began reading an item about the situation in Khartoum with gunshots being heard in the background and switched the programming to music. Eyewitnesses and Al Arabiya later reported that the TV station was captured by RSF forces. Bridges and roads in Khartoum were closed and checkpoints set up. The RSF claimed that all roads heading south of Khartoum have been closed.
At Khartoum International Airport, multiple aircraft belonging to Saudia, Badr Airlines, and SkyUp Airlines among others were reported to be damaged according to Flightradar24. Saudia later confirmed that one of its aircraft, an Airbus, came under fire before take-off at the airport and that it had evacuated all passengers, crew and staff to the Saudi embassy. It, along with EgyptAir and Qatar Airways also suspended all flights to and from Sudan.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Hemedti accused Abdel Fattah al-Burhan of forcing the RSF to begin confrontations and accused SAF commanders of scheming to bring deposed leader Omar al-Bashir back to power. On Twitter, Hemedti called for the international community to intervene against Burhan, claiming that the RSF was fighting against radical militants.
Darfur
Clashes erupted in the capital of North Darfur state, Al-Fashir, while Nyala Airport in South Darfur was shelled. In Al-Fashir, clashes were ongoing using light and heavy weapons with RSF forces trying to capture the airport and other buildings. RSF forces claimed to have captured the airport, and the Signal Corps and Medical Corps headquarters in Al-Fashir. Clashes erupted in Zalingei in Central Darfur.مراسل العربية: قتال بين الجيش والدعم السريع في مدينة زالنجي في ولاية وسط دارفور #العربية_عاجل https://alarabiya.net , 15 April 2023
Elsewhere Later in the day, the SAF claimed that RSF forces in White Nile, Gedaref, Kassala, Nyala, Port Sudan, Kadugli, Damazin and Kosti had surrendered and that the RSF camps of Taiba and Soba had been destroyed.
16 April SAF The Khartoum State Security Committee declared a public holiday in the city "in order to preserve lives of citizens and their property". At around 13:30 (CAT), the SAF announced the rescue of a major general and a brigadier, the arrests of multiple RSF officers at Merowe Airport and the taking of the airport itself, while also claiming that multiple RSF leaders had deserted or surrendered to SAF. SAF officials also claimed that RSF members had fled Merowe Airport with Egyptian soldiers being taken as prisoners.
The Sudan Civil Aviation Authority announced the closure of the country's airspace as well as that of parts of South Sudan that it also manages due to 'security reasons.' Telecommunications provider MTN shut down internet services across the country after orders from the Sudanese telecommunications regulator were given. Sudan TV also completely halted its broadcasts, and a local news website reported that clashes had taken place within the headquarters of the station and that its control room "was bombed". Reuters cited staff as saying that the authorities had cut transmissions to prevent broadcasting by RSF forces. Attacks were also reported at facilities of Sudan Railways.
The Chadian Army stopped and disarmed a contingent of 320 Sudanese soldiers who had entered the country from Darfur while fleeing the RSF.
RSF An RSF advisor said that they tactically withdrew from the Karari camp in Omdurman while also claiming that 90% of Khartoum was under RSF control. Sources from Al Jazeera indicated that at around 18:00 (CAT), RSF forces took control over the Blue Nile TV network. In Nyala, the RSF claimed control of the SAF's 16th Infantry Division at around 18:30 (CAT), according to residents RSF forces captured the city's airport after capturing a military base in the previous day.
The RSF claimed on Twitter that they had taken control of the SAF's 21st Brigade at Kabkabiya in Darfur.
International The Arab League, European Union and United Nations express concern over the conflict, encouraging the warring sides to agree to a ceasefire.
Egypt and South Sudan offer to mediate an agreement between the warring sides.
Chad, Egypt and South Sudan close their borders to Sudan.
17 April Clashes resumed in Khartoum with artillery being heard from the northern and southern parts of the capital as fighting went on in front of the gates of the army headquarters. Fighting was ongoing in Omdurman, with use of fighter jets by the military and anti-aircraft missiles by the RSF. Fighting took place west of Merowe airport.
A US diplomatic convoy was fired upon in Darfur and managed to escape unharmed. Preliminary reports linked the assailants to the RSF.
SAF
The SAF claimed control of the headquarters of Sudan TV and state radio in Khartoum, and Sudan TV resumed its broadcasting with pro-army songs and anthems. The RSF released a video on their Twitter page, purportedly filmed in front of Sudan TV compound's gates, and disputed its control.
RSF At 10:00 (CAT), the RSF claimed to be in full control of Merowe Airport.
18 April As a ceasefire was announced to begin later in the day, fighting continued in Khartoum with fighter jets flying across the capital, launching attacks against what appeared to be RSF targets. The RSF used anti-aircraft defense systems and heavy artillery to repel the attacks. Reporters said that armed personnel had entered several hospitals in Khartoum. Medical facilities have also reported a shortage of medical personnel, electricity and water. Al Jazeera reported that confrontations appear to have stopped in south Khartoum, and fighting was ongoing in the center of the capital near the presidential palace and the army headquarters. The RSF was reported to have looted some residential areas of the capital, with residents of the Khartoum 2 area telling the BBC that the RSF had been going house-to-house demanding water and food. After the ceasefire came into effect at 18:00 local time, gunfire and shelling continued to be heard in Khartoum. Two rockets struck the Yunus Emre Institute in Khartoum, without causing any casualties.
At Merowe, eyewitnesses reported seeing an RSF column heading away from the perimeter of its airport to al-Multaqa, 100 km (62 miles) to the south, following air strikes by the military the previous day.
19 April Battles continued in Khartoum near the army headquarters, the presidential palace, and the airport, with heavy weaponry being used. The SAF said that it was attacked by the RSF at its general command headquarters but had repelled the attack, inflicting "heavy losses" on the RSF, who were reported to have abandoned 24 land cruisers, and calling on them to surrender, promising pardons to members who would do so. It also admitted that the RSF managed to seize a number of government buildings such as the Ministry of the Council of Ministers, the Ministry of the Interior and the Civil Registry Department. Observers determined that the SAF was controlling access to Khartoum and trying to cut off supply routes to RSF fighters. Witnesses said the SAF reinforcements were brought in from near the eastern border with Ethiopia.
The SAF accused the RSF of assaulting civilians in Khartoum and other parts of the country, carrying out acts of looting and burning at a market in Khartoum Bahri and going on a rampage, looting and assaulting people in Merowe.
As another ceasefire was announced to begin at 18:00 local time, fighting was reported to have mostly subsided around Khartoum Airport but continued to be intense around the Presidential Palace, Army Headquarters and in the Jabra neighborhood of west Khartoum, where homes belonging to Hemedti and his family were located. Fighting was reported to have continued several minutes into the start of the ceasefire. Hemedti was reportedly seen commanding operations from the Hai al-Matar neighborhood, close to the military headquarters. The RSF accused the SAF of using heavy artillery against homes in Jabra, breaching international law. A huge fire broke out in the Khartoum 2 area after an attack at a weapons store.
In Merowe, an Al Jazeera correspondent said that the SAF had regained full control over the airport, which had been totally destroyed in the fighting, and that the situation was returning to normal although the presence of military vehicles was still noted. The RSF claimed that it still maintained a presence in the city.
The SAF seized control of the RSF's Chevrelet military base on the Libyan border to prevent the flow of weapons to the RSF from that country.
Diplomatic missions in Sudan, which included those of Australia, Canada, Japan, Norway, South Korea, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union (France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, and Sweden), issued a joint statement calling for fighting parties to observe their obligations under international law, specifically urging them to "protect civilians, diplomats and humanitarian actors," avoid further escalations and initiate talks to "resolve outstanding issues".
20 April The RSF said that it repelled a SAF attack on its positions in Omdurman in the morning despite the ongoing ceasefire, shooting down two helicopters in the process. RSF forces approaching Khartoum were blocked by SAF air and land forces. Al Jazeera reported that clashes continued near the army headquarters and the presidential palace. Explosions were also reported in El-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan state.
21 April The day marked Eid al-Fitr with calls for a ceasefire to allow for celebrations. Despite Burhan calling for unity and Hemedti saying it would abide by a ceasefire, to which the SAF later agreed, fighting continued for the seventh day. Heavy shelling and gunfire was reported in Khartoum, Khartoum Bahri and Omdurman as the RSF accused the SAF of staging a "sweeping attack". The SAF replied that it was "combing" the streets of Khartoum for the RSF, using soldiers on foot. Fighting was described as particularly intense along the highway going to Port Sudan and in the industrial zone of al-Bagair. Fighting was also recorded in El-Obeid. Al-Arabiya TV reported that the SAF had established full control over Merowe.
22 April Heavy fighting continued in Khartoum, particularly around the Presidential Palace and the airport. Fighting also spread along the main road leading south-east out of the capital.
23 April A near-total Internet outage was reported across Sudan, with cybersecurity watchdog organization NetBlocks saying that Internet connectivity was at only 2 percent of usual levels. It suggested electricity shortages caused by attacks on the electric grid was the cause.