What's happened
The ongoing conflict in Sudan, sparked in 2023, has led to a severe humanitarian crisis. Over 100,000 people have fled Darfur's Al-Fashir due to RSF control, with famine, violence, and war crimes escalating. Aid efforts are hampered by logistical and security challenges, leaving millions in dire need.
What's behind the headline?
The Sudanese conflict has become a complex humanitarian disaster driven by entrenched military rivalries and regional instability. The fall of cities like el-Fasher to RSF control has triggered mass atrocities, including killings and sexual violence, with the UN warning of potential further atrocities in Kordofan. Aid delivery remains critically hampered by ongoing fighting and logistical hurdles, risking a worsening famine and health crisis. The international community's response appears insufficient relative to the scale of suffering, and diplomatic efforts need to be intensified to prevent further escalation. The situation underscores the fragility of peace in Sudan and the urgent need for sustained intervention to prevent a broader regional destabilization.
What the papers say
Reuters reports the escalation of famine and displacement in Darfur, highlighting the UN’s warnings of a worsening humanitarian crisis. Al Jazeera emphasizes the ongoing violence, including attacks on civilians and the destruction of aid routes, with detailed accounts of atrocities and the international community’s limited response. Both sources underline the critical need for increased aid and diplomatic efforts, but Reuters focuses more on the logistical and funding challenges, while Al Jazeera provides a broader context of violence and human rights abuses. The contrasting perspectives underscore the complexity of the crisis: one highlighting operational hurdles, the other emphasizing the human toll and atrocities.
How we got here
The conflict between Sudan's army and the paramilitary RSF began in 2023, resulting in widespread violence and displacement. Key regions like Darfur and Kordofan have seen intense fighting, mass atrocities, and a collapse of health and food systems. International aid has struggled to reach affected populations amid ongoing hostilities.
Go deeper
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The Rapid Support Forces are Sudanese paramilitary forces operated by the Sudanese Government. The RSF grew out of, and is primarily composed of, the Janjaweed militias which fought on behalf of the Sudanese government during the War in Darfur, killing an
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Sudan, officially the Republic of the Sudan, is a country in North-East Africa. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, Libya to the northwest, Chad to the west, the Central African Republic to the southwest, South Sudan to the south, Ethiopia to the southe
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The Sudanese Armed Forces are the military forces of the Republic of the Sudan. During the 39-month transition to democracy that started in September 2019, the August 2019 Draft Constitutional Declaration defines the Supreme Commander of the Sudanese Arme
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The World Food Programme is the food-assistance branch of the United Nations and the world's largest humanitarian organization addressing hunger and promoting food security.