Sudan, one of Africa’s poorest countries, is facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis since the armed conflict erupted in April 2023 between the two factions of the Sudanese Armed Forces: the army led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti).

The violence, which spread from Khartoum to Darfur and other states, has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions.

Repeated peace initiatives have failed due to the army’s intransigence and its alliance with the Islamic Movement and the Muslim Brotherhood.

Sudan: Scale of the Humanitarian Disaster

According to United Nations reports, more than 61,000 people were killed in Khartoum State alone by November 2024, of whom 26,000 died from direct violence.

Over 9 million were displaced internally, and nearly 3 million fled to neighboring countries such as Chad and Egypt.

Some 30.4 million people—two‑thirds of Sudan’s population—now require urgent humanitarian assistance including food, water, and medical care.

Hunger and Famine

Some 25 million people suffer from severe food insecurity, with confirmed famine conditions in five areas of North Darfur and the Nuba Mountains.

The World Food Programme has warned that 90 percent of those in emergency hunger cannot be reached due to restrictions on aid delivery.

Destruction of Infrastructure

Hundreds of schools and over 100 university facilities have been destroyed and converted into shelters for the displaced.

Around 400 industrial sites and 100 banks have been looted, precipitating the collapse of an already fragile economy, which is expected to contract by up to 28 percent in 2024.

Human Rights Violations

UNICEF and human rights groups have documented mass rapes of women and children, including infants. In Al-Jazira State, October reports described women’s suicides following rape campaigns carried out by army units and allied militias.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights recorded 500 enforced disappearances—among them 24 women—with many detainees tortured in facilities effectively controlled by the armed forces.

Army Intransigence and Alliance with the Islamic Movement

All peace efforts, including the Jeddah negotiations and African Union initiatives, have failed due to the Sudanese army’s intransigence and its close ties to the Islamic Movement and the Muslim Brotherhood.

International reports indicate that the army has bolstered its influence by enlisting extremist Islamist militias, some linked to Al‑Qaeda and ISIS.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights stated:

“Impunity fuels gross violations in Sudan as extremist actors engage in the conflict.”

A source from the Sudanese resistance committees confirmed that the army relies on hardline Islamist militias, hindering any progress toward peace.

Human Rights Watch reported that pro‑army militias attacked civilians in Darfur, while a UN report documented brutal killings—such as the beheading of students in North Kordofan—carried out by men in military uniforms.

The return of officials from former President Omar al‑Bashir’s regime—overthrown in 2019—such as Ahmed Haroun, wanted by the International Criminal Court, has strengthened Islamist influence within the army.

Bashir’s Islamist government, in power since the 1989 coup, oversaw wars, conflicts, and atrocities, leading the UN in 2003 to accuse the army of war crimes and genocide in Darfur.

Challenges in Delivering Aid

Relief organizations have been looted, and authorities have imposed restrictions on assistance, worsening civilian suffering. In February 2025, the United Nations launched a US $4.2 billion appeal to meet humanitarian needs, including US $1.8 billion for refugees in neighboring countries.

Sudan stands on the brink of a comprehensive humanitarian catastrophe. The surge in rights abuses, worsening hunger and displacement, and failing peace efforts—attributable to the army’s obstinacy and alliance with Islamist groups—threaten to prolong the conflict.

Urgent international intervention is needed to ensure accountability, deliver aid, and restore hope for millions of Sudanese suffering the ravages of war.

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