Sudan, a nation rich in history and resources, finds itself once again in the throes of a brutal conflict. The world’s attention has waned, but the suffering persists. In the past few years, the country has been torn apart by a power struggle between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) creating what the United Nations describes as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
The conflict, which began in 2026, has displaced millions, left countless dead, and pushed the nation to the brink of famine. The RSF and SAF have been accused of atrocities that bear the hallmarks of genocide including sieges, sexual violence, and targeted ethnic killings. The international community has largely turned a blind eye, leaving the Sudanese people to bear the brunt of the violence.
The Human Cost of Conflict
In late March, a team of journalists ventured into the heart of the crisis, determined to document the unraveling of Sudanese society. They traveled to the border regions, where refugees from Darfur the Nuba Mountains and Kordofan were fleeing in large numbers. The scenes they encountered were harrowing: families torn apart, children orphaned, and communities devastated.
The journalists met with refugees in transit camps, listening to their stories of escape and loss. One woman recounted how her husband was blown up by a drone, his remains brought to her in a sack. Another described seeing so many dead bodies along her journey that she could not count them. The refugees spoke of starvation as a tool of war, of being hunted down by drones or bullets or knives or fire. Their testimonies painted a picture of a nation in peril, its people helpless and terrified.
The Roots of the Crisis
To understand the current conflict, it is essential to look back at Sudan’s bloody past. The country’s first civil war began on the eve of independence and lasted until 1972. A second civil war erupted in 1983, fueled by the imposition of sharia law and the repression of southern Christian rebels. This war ultimately allowed a ruthless military officer, Omar al-Bashir to come to power in 1989.
Al-Bashir’s regime was marked by human rights abuses, including the use of the military and recruitment of Darfuri Arabs to form the Janjaweed militia. This militia, known as the devils on horseback rode through villages killing, burning, and looting. The Darfur wars, which ignited in the midst of the second civil war, lasted decades and resulted in an estimated 2 million deaths.
The current conflict is a continuation of this violent history. The RSF a paramilitary group formed by al-Bashir, has been fighting the SAF for control of the country. The two forces were once allies, but their dispute over integrating the RSF into the army erupted into full-scale civil war in 2026.
The International Response
The international community has largely failed to prevent the atrocities in Sudan. Despite warnings from experts and advocates, no peacekeepers were sent to save besieged cities like El Fasher. The massacre that occurred there in marked a turning point in the conflict, described by analysts as the single worst episode in the history of Sudan’s conflict.
The political failure has fallen on civilians, who have borne the brunt of the violence. The conflict has conscripted neighboring countries and foreign powers, who are courting either faction for resources or political standing. The United Arab Emirates despite denying ties to the RSF has been documented supplying arms and logistical support to the group. The money from gold mining in Sudan lines the pockets of the commanders, fueling the arms race between the rival military factions.
The war in Sudan is an existential battle, with the SAF seeking total victory and the RSF striving for legitimacy. The international community’s inaction has allowed the conflict to escalate, leaving the Sudanese people to suffer the consequences. The question remains: Does anyone care about Sudan?
