Sudan stands at the precipice of self-destruction, trapped in a brutal civil war that has caused untold human suffering and threatens to fracture the country. Over a year into the conflict, a strategic stalemate persists between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) led by Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) headed by Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti. Neither side has secured a decisive edge, and both continue to rely on foreign military support and shifting political alliances.
The SAF’s recapture of central Khartoum in March, aided by weapons from Egypt, Turkey, and other Middle Eastern allies, proved short-lived. The RSF responded with sophisticated drone attacks on Port Sudan, reportedly with backing from the UAE—an accusation Abu Dhabi denies. Meanwhile, Hemedti has expanded RSF operations by aligning with rebel commander Abdel Aziz al-Hilu, opening new fronts near the South Sudan and Ethiopia borders.
In Darfur, the siege of el-Fasher has created catastrophic conditions. The RSF’s blockade and attacks have pushed the city into famine, especially impacting the displaced community in Zamzam. Accusations of ethnic cleansing and genocide by the RSF against non-Arab communities, including the Massalit and Zaghawa, continue to mount.
Sudan’s once-vibrant civic movement is in disarray. Neighbourhood committees, which played a pivotal role in the 2019 revolution, now focus on humanitarian aid through “Emergency Response Rooms,” though many suffer from a lack of funding after the U.S. ended support via USAID. Both warring factions see civil society as a threat, targeting aid workers and activists with violence.
Despite repeated diplomatic efforts, including a recent London conference, peace remains elusive. Regional powers like Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE remain divided in their support, making consensus difficult. The UN’s recognition of Burhan’s government further complicates negotiations.
Without urgent international intervention and a united regional front, Sudan risks descending into a de facto partition, leaving its people to bear the brunt of war, famine, and displacement. The time to act is now before the country reaches the point of no return.
