The Sudanese Civil War

The Sudanese Civil War:  From April 2023 to the Present day

The civil war in Sudan, a country in North Africa, started on April 15th of 2023 at the heart of Sudan at Khartoum due to the power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). It erupted quickly into a large- scale conflict. 

There is the SAF, who are known to be loyal to Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and, in conflict with them, are the paramilitaries of the RSF, a collection of militia under a warlord widely known as Hemedti, both battling each other to gain control of the state and its resources.

Basic Information on Recent Developments-

In May 2023, the peace negotiation between the parties involved collapsed after the SAF (Sudanese Armed forces) cast aside talks brokered by the United States of America and Saudi Arabia. This was followed by Burhan’s declaration that the UN envoy, Volker Perthes, would no longer be welcomed into the country, indicating to the international community that a peaceful resolution was, and perhaps still is, far from becoming a reality. 

In June, the Joe Biden administration took measures to promote accountability for those involved in the conflict. Due to pressure from foreign governments, the SAF and RSF agreed to resume USA and Saudi led negotiations in late October 2023, but did not cease conflict while the talks were ongoing. 

In December, negotiations in Jeddah adjourned for a second time after neither side agreed to uphold their commitments, including maintaining civility during negotiations and the facilitation of humanitarian assistance. Numerous attempts at reconciliation between the two warring factions have been made, but no change has been seen since the beginning of the war.

The Economic Aspect

Due to no legitimate political party governing the country, Sudan has faced political instability alongside economic pressures for far longer than the recent civil war has been going on, which has led to widespread poverty throughout the nation as nearly half the population is unemployed. 

People in the capital, Khartoum, and areas such as factories, banks, shops and markets have been victims of shoplifting, looting and damage, which signifies the economic incapacity within the nation, while further reducing access to goods, services, and cash. 

The Sudanese pound has lost at least 50% of its value and inflation from previous years has contributed to currency instability. Due to citizens fleeing the country in search of safety, there have been labor shortages, impact on agriculture, and the cost of fuel and gas rising.

Fall of the Healthcare System

 18 million people in Sudan face food insecurities, since one in five households in areas that are affected by the violence of this civil war face an extreme lack of food with little to no chance of feeding themselves or their families. Food insecurity has led to high rates of malnutrition, with little chance of recovery as there is an acute lack of staff, funding, and medical supplies in the remaining hospitals available, as 70% of health facilities in conflict- affected regions are closed or inoperable.

Many health facilities in Sudan have faced repeated attacks, theft and non-administrative occupation during the conflict, deeming them unsafe and unable to provide any help to those in need.

In correlation to the lack of water, food, sanitation and hygiene services a measles outbreak has claimed the lives of a thousand children across Sudan and a severe cholera outbreak have led to 11,327 cases and 316 deaths as of 16th August 2024, the WHO have also reported that dengue fever and meningitis infections are also on the rise. Numbers will keep increasing as the country has no proper healthcare system and won’t if this civil war continues. Doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals have lost their chance at saving their fellow citizens as they themselves have no way of sourcing the materials required to stop the number of outbreaks and deaths from increasing.

Displacement across Sudan

Due to extreme weather shocks, social and political unrest, hunger, etc, there has been accelerated displacement throughout Sudan, almost 10 million displaced since April making it the largest displacement crisis in the world. Over two million people have fled to neighboring countries. Intense fighting has driven some 500,000 internally displaced people in the Zamzam camp into famine conditions.

Effect on other resources

Additionally, Sudan has been facing internet and communication blackouts in the course of this civil war. In February 2024, all three of Sudan’s main internal operators were reported offline, leaving almost 30 million Sudanese without internet or telephone access for more than a month. The conflict between factions have led to at least 10,400 schools in conflict affected areas to be shut, leaving an estimated 19 million children without an education and at risk of abuse or exploitation. Despite the painful circumstances these young children are facing, this is just the tip for young girls and boys growing in Sudan. Children make up a large amount of the cases of sexual and gender-based violence as a result of the escalating conflict, with incidents of rape, sexual assault, and sexual exploitation being reported by those fled. There have also been reports if girls being kidnapped and held for days while being sexually assaulted, and of gang rapes of girls and women. It is said that there has been a 500% increase in sexual violence by UNCEIF Australia.

This civil war has not only left everyone in Sudan suffering but those suffering from domestic violence are getting hit twice more as the tension increases. The chance of them surviving to get help is decreasing day by day, as healthcare for their wounds is not available neither is a simple call for help.

What is happening in Sudan is not just another line on a list of all the unrest in the world, the pain and suffering each person in Sudan is real. And is most definitely not forgotten as we stand by their side in this time of suffering and pray, hope, pour some of our freedom in hope of theirs. Since at the end of the day we are united by the fact we all are human.