The war in Sudan is getting much worse, turning into one of the world’s most serious humanitarian disasters. The fight, which started in April 2023, is a brutal power struggle between two military groups that used to work together.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The two sides are the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the powerful paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (known as Hemedti). They are fighting for complete control over the country’s government and future.
The War’s Beginnings: A Breakdown of Trust
The current conflict began after a plan to move Sudan toward a civilian government failed. The SAF and the RSF had worked together to overthrow the old dictator, Omar al-Bashir, and later staged a joint coup in 2021.
The fighting started when they could not agree on one key issue: integrating the RSF into the official army (SAF). Hemedti wanted to keep his RSF forces independent, leading to open war in the capital, Khartoum, which quickly spread across Sudan.
Fall of El Fasher and Ethnic Violence
The most alarming recent development is the fall of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur. This city was the last major area in the region controlled by the national army (SAF).
- Fear of Mass Atrocities: After the RSF took over El Fasher, there are widespread and credible reports of mass killings and atrocities. Experts analyzing satellite images have found evidence suggesting mass burials and organized ethnic cleansing.
- Targeting Civilians: The RSF is accused of going house-to-house, specifically targeting people from non-Arab groups, such as the Masalit, Fur, and Zaghawa communities. This kind of targeted violence echoes the horrific crimes committed by the RSF’s former incarnation, the Janjaweed militia, during the Darfur genocide decades ago.
- Hospital Attacks: Health facilities have also been attacked, with reports of medical staff and patients being killed inside hospitals.
A Worsening Humanitarian Catastrophe
The war has created a massive human crisis, pushing Sudan to the brink of collapse:
- Mass Displacement: More than 14 million people have been forced to flee their homes, making this one of the world’s largest displacement crises. Millions are now internally displaced or have become refugees in nearby countries.
- Famine Risk: Large parts of Sudan are facing a severe famine. Aid agencies warn that many people are suffering from severe malnutrition, with some reports of communities being forced to eat animal feed to survive.
- Services Collapse: Basic necessities like health care, clean water, and sanitation have broken down, leading to outbreaks of diseases like cholera.
International Response
The global community has struggled to stop the fighting.
- Calls for Ceasefire: The United Nations (UN) and many world leaders have called for an immediate ceasefire and have warned that the war is “spiraling out of control.”
- ICC Investigation: The International Criminal Court (ICC) is actively collecting evidence of the alleged mass killings and crimes in Darfur to hold people accountable in the future.
- Regional Support: The conflict is complicated by external support; the SAF receives backing from some countries, while the RSF is linked to resource-rich countries, facing accusations of receiving arms in exchange for control over Sudan’s gold resources.
The situation remains critical, with the fighting continuing and the immediate focus being on getting life-saving aid to the starving and displaced populations before the crisis worsens further.
