Through the world’s many conflicts, major powers, and smaller nations, Sudan is perhaps one of the worst and least known humanitarian crises on earth. Despite having a violent and unsteady history, not many people know of the current crisis happening in Sudan. The nation has been in several civil conflicts in the past, dating as far back as the 1950’s. Though there once was a future of peace and rebuilding in Sudan’s sights, those efforts and that mentality seemed to fade as the country entered another war in April of 2023.
The current conflict arose due to two generals, who staged the military revolt in 2021, turning on each other. The two sides are the Rapid Support Forces (R.S.F.), led by Lieutenant General Mohamed Hamadam, and the Sudanese Armed Forces led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. Both sides have committed war crimes and atrocities like ethnic cleansing and the use of starvation as a weapon. Due to these struggles, both sides’ populations seem to be going through hardships, particularly famine and military violence. Many outside influences have been fueling the ongoing conflict such as Ukraine, Iran, and Egypt helping through military aid to Sudan. As stated by Lauren Vespoli, in Upfront Magazine, despite efforts for a peaceful resolution, attempts at meeting have fallen short due to the Sudanese military refusing to cooperate at any peace meetings. Most fighting has been in or around the capital city, Khartoum in the Darfur region. The conflict began with R.S.F. firing airstrikes and other attacks across Sudan, prompting defense from the S.A.F.
Throughout the war, there have been at least 88 cases of sexual assault, an estimated 150,000 civilian casualties, and many threats towards foreign journalists. Many citizens of other countries have been reported as being killed including at least 15 Syrians, 10 Congolese, and 2 Americans. Many people throughout the war have been unable to eat, drink, or even step outside of their homes. There have been many attacks on buildings such as hospitals and other medical facilities. It is believed that the constant supply of weapons to both sides from foreign countries such as China and Russia continues to fuel the war despite resources such as food production being cut in half. The Famine Review Committee (FRC) has reported as of August 1, 2024 the region is experiencing IPC Phase 5 conditions. Both sides have claimed to not produce food due to fear of the other side controlling food resources. Many treaties and ceasefires have been proposed throughout the years of the war, but both sides have disregarded all attempts at peace, including the Treaty of Jeddah which was a peace agreement that included guidelines on how to treat citizens. There has also been a certified outbreak of cholera, being declared an epidemic as of September 8, 2024, which has led to at least 185 deaths and 5,692 total cases. In refugee camps alone, it has been reported that 1,200 children have died due to diseases.
The region has faced quite a bit of struggle in the past years, and with the current civil war, it is important to highlight the struggles innocent people go through as a result of the conflict. The war has caused significant damage to the nation’s infrastructure and continues to be fueled by foreign countries. This is a reminder to stay informed and educated in world affairs.
