After 17 months of civil war, Sudan is facing yet another bloody battle. The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) launched air and artillery attacks in an attempt to regain lost ground in the capital, Khartoum. Heavy fighting with rival troops from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) was reported around bridges linking the city center to Omdurman and Bahri. While the SAF may have the advantage, both sides are locked in a destructive stalemate across much of the country.
The recent clashes followed a renewed assault by the RSF on the besieged city of El Fasher in western Darfur region. This siege has been ongoing for months and has been accompanied by reports of horrifying atrocities against the population, including widespread sexual violence. The RSF, led by Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo or “Hemedti,” was formerly known as Janjaweed and was responsible for genocide against black African pastoralists in Darfur during the early 2000s.
Sudan’s current leader, Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, seized power in a coup after former president Omar al-Bashir was deposed following his indictment for genocide and war crimes in Darfur. Burhan claims to be Sudan’s legitimate leader but faces opposition from Dagalo and the RSF.
Burhan recently expressed support for peaceful efforts to end the war if RSF forces ended their occupation of large territories. However, diplomatic solutions seem unlikely as Burhan boycotted peace talks held last month.
Sudan’s conflicts reflect deep-rooted disputes based on ethnicity, race, religion, economics, and geography. Chronic mis-governance over many decades has contributed to these divisions. Foreign interference from regional states providing funding, weapons, and mercenaries exacerbates tensions between competing factions.
The humanitarian crisis unfolding in Sudan is preventable but highlights failings within both UN systems and wealthy donor countries who lack adequate resources to address famine linked to climate change. The crisis also fuels issues such as uncontrolled mass migration and Islamist radicalization in neighboring regions like Sahel.
Keir Starmer and Joe Biden mentioned Sudan during their UN speeches while António Guterres called for an immediate nationwide ceasefire to avoid catastrophe. However, decisive action from international communities remains absent amidst ongoing conflicts across various regions globally.
Former UK international development secretary Andrew Mitchell suggests that “humanitarian intervention” should be considered as an option for Sudan’s crisis but questions who will step up amidst other global crises occurring simultaneously.
