A new wave of restrictions imposed by Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) is further complicating humanitarian aid delivery in conflict-hit areas, particularly in famine-stricken regions, according to relief workers. The move comes as the RSF seeks to establish a parallel government in western Sudan, despite losing ground in the capital, Khartoum.

The ongoing war, which erupted due to a power struggle between the RSF and the Sudanese army, has resulted in what the United Nations calls the world’s most severe humanitarian crisis. Nearly half of Sudan’s 50 million people suffer from acute hunger, with over 12.5 million displaced. Aid workers report that both warring sides have hindered relief efforts—RSF forces have allegedly looted supplies, while the army has blocked access to RSF-controlled areas.

Since late 2023, the RSF has tightened its grip on aid operations by increasing bureaucratic hurdles, including higher fees and oversight of recruitment and security. The Sudan Agency for Relief and Humanitarian Operations (SARHO), which administers aid for the RSF, mandated humanitarian organizations to register through a "cooperation agreement" and establish independent operations within RSF territory. While SARHO agreed to suspend these directives until April, aid agencies say restrictions remain in place.

The measures have particularly impacted the city of al-Fashir in Darfur, the army’s last stronghold in the region, and surrounding camps where famine is spreading. A global hunger monitor has confirmed famine in displacement camps near al-Fashir, where RSF shelling has worsened the crisis. Residents report extreme food shortages, with many resorting to eating leaves for survival.

Aid groups are caught in a dilemma—failure to comply with RSF demands leads to delays and denials of travel permits, while cooperation risks expulsion by the army-backed government in Port Sudan. The United Nations and international organizations have raised concerns that the RSF's control mechanisms could facilitate corruption and divert aid.

While both the RSF and the army deny obstructing humanitarian efforts, aid workers warn that growing interference is exacerbating Sudan’s suffering. The crisis continues to deepen, with no clear resolution in sight as both sides struggle for control of the war-torn nation.