Sudan is one of the largest countries in Africa, covering an area of 1.9 million square kilometers and home to a population of 46 million. The capital city is Khartoum, and the official languages are Arabic and English. Governed as a Federal Republic under a military junta, Sudan has an approximate GDP per capita of $750 as of 2021, making it one of the poorest countries globally.
Conflict Parties in Sudan
The conflict in Sudan involves two main factions: the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This struggle for power has resulted in violent clashes, killing nearly 16,000 people and displacing millions over the past year. The SAF, Sudan’s national army, comprises about 300,000 soldiers and is led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, a career soldier who rose through the ranks under President Omar al-Bashir. The RSF, with approximately 100,000 well-equipped soldiers, is led by General Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo. They are strategically positioned across Khartoum and the Darfur region, the group’s traditional stronghold.
Why is there a War in Sudan?
The war erupted on April 15, 2023, due to a power struggle between army chief al-Burhan and RSF commander Dagalo. Following the ousting of President al-Bashir in 2019 after nearly 30 years of rule, a fragile transition to civilian-led democracy was derailed when al-Burhan and Dagalo staged a coup in 2021. Initially sharing power, their relationship deteriorated over time, particularly after the December 2022 Framework Agreement aimed at integrating the RSF into the army as part of broader security sector reforms and a democratic transition.
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF)
The RSF originated from the Janjaweed militias used by the Sudanese government to suppress rebellion in Darfur in the early 2000s. Officially formed in 2013, the RSF has been led by General Dagalo. Despite its power, the RSF has been accused of committing human rights abuses and atrocities against civilians. Unlike the regular Sudanese armed forces, the RSF operates independently.
Preceding Events
In the months leading up to the conflict, negotiations were ongoing to restore the democratic transition. In 2022, a framework deal aimed to return power to civilians, but tensions escalated over the RSF’s integration into the Sudanese military. Al-Burhan and Dagalo disagreed on who would command the military during the integration period, exacerbating the conflict.
Recent Developments
Recently, Dagalo has aligned himself with pro-democracy parties, presenting himself as a supporter of the democratic transition, which heightened tensions with al-Burhan. The conflict, rooted in the control over fighters, weapons, and resources, escalated when Dagalo mobilized the RSF against al-Burhan’s government in April 2023. The fighting began in Sudan’s capital and quickly spread to other regions, resulting in significant civilian casualties and displacement. Diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis have failed, partly due to the rushed international plan to merge the RSF into the army. Western countries promised aid and debt relief as incentives, but both sides were wary of losing control in a new political order.
World’s Largest Internal Displacement Crisis
According to the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), the conflict has displaced at least 8.2 million people out of Sudan’s 49 million population since it began. Nearly 1.8 million people have fled to neighboring countries like Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, and South Sudan, often undertaking perilous journeys. Internally, about 6.5 million people are displaced across Sudan’s 18 states, with South Darfur, River Nile, and East Darfur having the highest numbers. More than half of these internally displaced persons (IDPs) come from Khartoum state.
How Have People in Sudan Been Affected?
Sudan is experiencing a severe humanitarian crisis, with acute shortages of essential items like food, clean water, medicine, and fuel. Prices have skyrocketed due to scarcity, and approximately half of Sudan’s population requires humanitarian assistance. Nearly 18 million people face catastrophic levels of food insecurity, particularly in West Darfur, Khartoum, and among the IDPs. Aid groups struggle to provide assistance due to blocked access, security risks, and logistical challenges. In March, the UN managed to distribute food aid to West Darfur for the first time in months.
Efforts to end the war in Sudan have been hindered by regional divisions among mediating countries and competing interests from international players such as Russia, the US, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. The conflict is a complex power struggle rooted in Sudan’s history of military rule, civil conflicts, and attempts at democratic transition. The situation remains volatile, with dire humanitarian consequences for the Sudanese people.
