​This study examines the process of military sector reform in Sudan under a hybrid military regime, with a particular focus on efforts to establish a unified national army that incorporates the Rapid Support Forces. This issue has remained the primary obstacle to Sudan's political transition and was a central trigger of the war that erupted in April 2023. The study highlights the shortcomings of linear reform approaches and instead advocates for a nonlinear model centered on societal dynamics, arguing that such an approach would more effectively advance the reform process. It also explores key challenges to military reform, including the intersection of economic factors, the influence of regional security dynamics, the long-term consequences of the ongoing conflict, and the question of ownership over the reform process. The study concludes that externally imposed reform—without first achieving peace across all regions of Sudan—is ultimately futile.