What's happened
Since April 2023, Sudan's civil war between the army and RSF has caused over 11 million displacements and tens of thousands of deaths. Recent clashes in North Darfur and Kordofan have intensified, with widespread destruction, displacement, and reports of atrocities. The UN warns of a deepening humanitarian emergency.
What's behind the headline?
The escalation of violence in Sudan reflects a complex interplay of internal power struggles and external influence. The recent targeting of key military sites in Sinja and ongoing clashes in Darfur and Kordofan suggest a strategic push by the RSF to control vital regions and threaten the capital. The international community's calls for designating the RSF as a terrorist organization aim to curb its capabilities and signal a shift towards accountability. The involvement of foreign powers, notably the UAE's alleged backing of the RSF and Egypt and Saudi Arabia's support for the army, complicates efforts for peace and prolongs the conflict. The UN warns that continued attacks on civilian infrastructure and reports of atrocities could constitute war crimes, with potential regional destabilization. The conflict's trajectory indicates a worsening humanitarian crisis, with millions facing starvation and disease, and the risk of further regional spillover increasing. The next phase will likely see intensified international pressure for ceasefire negotiations, but the entrenched interests of external actors and internal factions suggest a protracted and devastating conflict.
What the papers say
The New Arab reports on the recent escalation of violence and the humanitarian crisis, emphasizing the toll on civilians and the strategic importance of regions like North Darfur and Kordofan. Edna Mohamed highlights the international concern over foreign involvement and the potential designation of the RSF as a terrorist organization, citing testimonies of atrocities and drone strikes. Meanwhile, the articles from The New Arab provide a detailed overview of the ongoing conflict, the economic devastation, and the geopolitical interests at play, including the roles of the UAE, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Turkey. The coverage underscores the complexity of Sudan's crisis, with multiple actors and layered motives, and the urgent need for international intervention to prevent further atrocities and stabilize the region.
How we got here
The conflict in Sudan erupted in April 2023, rooted in a power struggle between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The RSF, formed in 2013 from the Janjaweed militia, has been accused of serious human rights abuses. Foreign actors, including the UAE, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Turkey, are believed to supply weapons and support to different sides. The war has devastated the economy, destroyed infrastructure, and caused the world's largest displacement crisis, with over 13.6 million people displaced and widespread food insecurity.
Go deeper
More on these topics
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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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Khartoum or Khartum is the capital of Sudan. With a population of 5,274,321, its metropolitan area is the largest in Sudan, the sixth-largest in Africa, the second-largest in North Africa, and the fourth-largest in the Arab world.
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Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is a country in Western Asia constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula.
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The United Arab Emirates, sometimes simply called the Emirates, is a sovereign state in Western Asia at the northeast end of the Arabian Peninsula on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman to the east and Saudi Arabia to the south and west, as well as sharing m
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Kordofan is a former province of central Sudan. In 1994 it was divided into three new federal states: North Kordofan, South Kordofan and West Kordofan.
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Darfur is a region of western Sudan. Dār is an Arabic word meaning "home [of]" – the region was named Dardaju while ruled by the Daju, who migrated from Meroë c. 350 AD, and it was renamed Dartunjur when the Tunjur ruled the area.
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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