The War in Sudan
Updated: Jul 8
The war in Sudan has been ongoing for several years and has resulted in significant casualties and displacement.
The civil war in Sudan began on April 15, 2023, and has entered its second year
The conflict is primarily a power struggle between two factions: the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)
The war has led to a displacement crisis, with over 8.2 million people being displaced and almost 2 million Sudanese fleeing to neighboring countries
The United Nations has called for more support as over 25 million people in Sudan require humanitarian assistance
Sudan's history has been marked by internal conflicts and divisions, including two civil wars and the secession of South Sudan in 2011
The second Sudanese civil war, which lasted from 1983 to 2005, resulted in an estimated two million deaths
Sudan was under the dictatorship of Omar al-Bashir, who faced popular protests calling for democracy and better governance
In April 2019, a coup led by the SAF and RSF ousted Bashir and established a transitional government
Photo Credit: Getty Images
The RSF is a powerful paramilitary group that emerged from the Janjaweed militia, which was involved in the Darfur conflict
The RSF has been accused of committing mass displacement, sexual violence, and other crimes in Darfur
RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan "Hemedti" Dagalo became one of Sudan's wealthiest men by seizing control of gold mines
Negotiations for a transition to civilian leadership and national elections have faced challenges due to the power struggle between the SAF and RSF
A December 2022 deal laid the groundwork for a two-year transition, but it faced opposition from citizens and opposition groups
The role of the RSF and its integration into Sudan's armed forces have been major sticking points in the negotiations
Photo Credit: Getty Images
The war in Sudan in 2024 has resulted in a devastating humanitarian crisis and ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF)
The RSF has captured the key army stronghold of el-Fula, the capital of West Kordofan state. This capture deepens the humanitarian crisis in the region, with many civilians fleeing their homes
The humanitarian response to the crisis has been criticized as "deeply inadequate" by medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF).
The suffering in Sudan is extreme, and the needs of the population are growing daily
Various attempts at peacemaking and ceasefires have collapsed since the war broke out in Khartoum last year. Diplomatic efforts have failed to put an end to the crisis, and the situation remains volatile
The war in Sudan began in April 2023 as a power struggle between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan "Hemedti" Dagalo. The conflict escalated after a fragile transition to civilian-led democracy was disrupted by the coup staged by al-Burhan and Hemedti
Photo Credit: Getty Images
The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) is the national army, while the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) is a paramilitary group. The SAF has approximately 300,000 soldiers, while the RSF has around 100,000 well-equipped soldiers. Other armed groups and civilian coalitions have also become involved in the conflict
The war has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of over 10 million people, making it one of the world's worst internal displacement crises. The exact number of casualties is difficult to determine due to the ongoing nature of the conflict
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