Sudan in Turmoil: Ethnic Violence, Famine, and Regional Rivalries

A fierce conflict erupted in Sudan in April 2023 between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), leading to ethnic violence, famine in Darfur, and a large internal displacement crisis. The power struggle, fueled by political and business interests, has drawn in global and regional powers, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.

A conflict that broke out in Sudan in April 2023 has triggered waves of ethnic violence, creating the world's largest internal displacement crisis and driving at least one area in Darfur into famine, as reported by a U.N.-backed hunger monitor. The root cause of the violence stems from escalating tensions between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which ignited in the capital Khartoum on April 15.

The fragile partnership between the two factions began following their joint toppling of a civilian government in October 2021. This coup disrupted a transition from the rule of Islamist autocrat Omar al-Bashir, who was ousted in 2019. The conflict was further fueled by disagreements over an internationally backed plan to initiate a new transition with civilian parties, including contentious issues regarding the integration of RSF into the regular armed forces and the chain of command.

Key players in the conflict include General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of the army, and General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), leader of the RSF. Both sides have committed severe abuses, including ethnically targeted killings and looting, while the humanitarian crisis worsens with millions displaced, infrastructure damaged, and widespread hunger threatening the nation’s stability. Regional and global powers, such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran, and Russia, are heavily involved, further complicating efforts to end the war.