Sudan's Humanitarian Crisis is Not A Civil War
- Carley
- Jun 17, 2025
- 10 min read
Updated: Sep 23, 2025
Sudan is currently experiencing the worst humanitarian crisis in world history
with more than half of Sudan's 45 million people displaced,
nearly 1 million are experiencing famine.
[1]
To understand how this conflict came to rise and the deficiencies in power organizing in Sudan we will began as far back as we can.
It is important to approach any type of problem solving or understanding with a complete picture of the origins of conflict within and around problems to fuel community well-being and community empowerment, rather than line the pockets of the so-called stakeholders.
A brief review of some historical context.
Sudan's history begins long before Egyptian and British colonization in the mid 19th century and starts rooted in the ancient civilizations of Africa’s Nile Valley.
I am going to quickly review it in this blog post but highly encourage you, the reader, to invest your own time into researching Sudan's deep, political, religious, and cultural roots further than this blog post can take you.
I strongly encourage you to read about pieces of the story not mentioned in detail here such as the Funj Dynasty, the history of Egyptian-Ottoman rule over Sudan, the Sudan Liberation Movement, the Juba Peace Agreement, and others, as well as to thoroughly look through the sources listed at the bottom of this post, and to discover your own sources.
Sudan is home to some of the earliest human settlements, and its prime location along the Nile River Valley gave rise to powerful African kingdoms like Kush and Meroë, which developed their own writing systems, spiritual traditions, and advanced architecture, all while maintaining complex relationships with ancient Egypt, with distinct cultures and identities dating back to the Paleolithic period [3].
By the 6th century CE, the rise of new Nubian Christian kingdoms—Nobatia, Makuria, and Alwa—marked a transformation in the region [3].
Influenced by missionaries from Byzantine Egypt, these kingdoms developed a distinct African form of Christianity and preserved it for nearly 900 years, resisting early Arab invasions and maintaining their autonomy [3].
By the 9th century, Arab nomads raided Nubia, and in the 13th century, Egypt’s Mamlūk rulers launched invasions that weakened Nubian rule [3].
By the 1500s, Islam had gradually replaced Christianity as the dominant faith [3]
In 1820, Ottoman-controlled Egypt invaded Sudan, beginning a period of economic exploitation and enslavement that laid the groundwork for later colonial rule. This period involved the slave trade, gold extraction, and harsh taxation, primarily benefiting Egyptian rulers.
By the 1880s, religious leader Muhammad Ahmad, known as the Mahdi, led a mass uprising to expel Egyptian rule, establishing an independent Islamic state across much of Sudan.
The Mahdist State lasted until 1898, when it was violently overthrown by British-Egyptian forces in the Battle of Omdurman.
From 1899 to 1956, Sudan was ruled as the Anglo-Egyptian Condominium, a colonial arrangement in name only, with Britain controlling administration, infrastructure, and economic policies. During this time, colonial policies deepened divisions by favoring Christian missionaries in the south and suppressing Islamic and Arab leaders in the north, laying the groundwork for Sudan’s future internal conflicts.
Sudan gained independence in 1956 and faced civil wars after. The First Sudanese Civil War (1955–1972) and Second Civil War (1983–2005) resulted in immense loss and displacement, culminating in the independence of South Sudan in 2011.
In 1999 oil discoveries in Sudan grew rapid GPD growth but in 2011 the succession of South Sudan deprived Sudan of most of its oil reserves.
This shock led to economic contraction. China among other major trade partners has become Sudan's largest trading partner.
But decades of US sanctions isolated Sudan from broader global trade and investment. Sudan's economy has since been plagued by corruption, heavy foreign debt, high unemployment, and inflation.
Recent Conflict
Today Sudan is Africa's 3rd largest country, bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the East, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the southwest, Chad to the west, and Libya to the northwest. The capital of Sudan is Khartoum. Sudan is home to a diverse population with respect to ethnic, religious, and linguistic groups.
Religious differences fueled historic conflicts. Arabic is the most widely spoken language used in schools and governments. However, over 100 spoken languages come from the African and Nilo-Saharan language family [4].
Omar al-Bashir led Sudan for 30 years as a dictator and later an indicted war criminal by leading the Revolutionary Command Council for National Salvation in 1989 [3].
From the 1990s to the 200s, Bashir imposed Islamic law, cracked down on opposition, and supported ethnic militias. Most infamously, he armed the Janjaweed militia during the Darfur conflict, leading to accusations of genocide and crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court (ICC) [5].
Economic collapse, fuel shortages, and high food prices led to mass protests across Sudan, led by youth, women, and professionals [5].
In 2019, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) removed Bashir from power after months of protests. He was imprisoned and later convicted of corruption, though Sudan's military has delayed his extradition to the ICC.
Democracy had arrived. The SAF and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) formed the Transitional Military Council (TMC).
The paramilitary's RSF grew out of the Janjaweed militia which 20 years ago committed genocide against the Masalit, Fur and Zaghawa people in the Darfur region. 3000 people were killed and now the US accuses RSF of renewed genocide and ICC investigating war crimes.
In October 2021, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (SAF) and Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo (RSF) overthrew the civilian government, ending the transition to democracy.
Disagreements escalated over a proposed plan to integrate the RSF into the national army.
The SAF wanted quick integration under its command; the RSF wanted a 10-year timeline and more autonomy [2], sparking the war between the two sides with Sudanese civilians caught in the crosshairs.
Malik Agar is currently Vice President and deputy chairperson of Sudan’s Transitional Sovereignty Council, and a former insurgent leader. Agar succeeded the last leader after RSF broke away from SAF.
The war started fast and unexpectedly for the people of Sudan. Agar has been an outspoken critic international involvement and says the only way is complete miliarial destruction of the militia RSF.
"Any leader in Sudan who can go into negotiations with the RSF is committing a political suicide." the vice president quotes.
"RSF is an instrument, a tool, for the UAE and others. Hemedti [the RSF] has no control of the forces here."
"The UAE has a lot of economic interests in Sudan. One of them is gold mining. They want some type of agricultural land in Sudan. They also have an interest in having an area on the Red Sea for their own interests."
The RSF continue to shell, shoot, raid across the Nile in heart of Khartoum.
Left with nothing but rainwater, closed schools, and packed low supplied emergency rooms. citizens believe nothing is being done to protect the citizens of this town. they believe to be dying by the weapons created by overseas nations claiming of no more war.
All of Omdurman's hospitals have been hit multiple times throughout the course of the war, with most of them left not functioning. Doctors speak of being victims of stray bullets while working. Cases that come from RSF controlled areas come in severely critical shape [4].
With thousands of people waiting in reception areas for displacement camps, some of which have been overrun by the RSF.
Citizens say they are receiving no aid and medicines were stolen by the militias. people are being kidnapped, sexually assaulted, beat, threatened, killed in the street.
"All Sudanese are being psychologically damaged by the RSF. We live in fear." A citizen remarks."
Even those who escape to the military base off the Red Sea are little better off. Most food is unaffordable, with the price of meat rising sixfold in the past two months [4]. See the map image above for context.
SAF want to show they are ready for a fight against the militia. The SAF are not paid to serve, volunteer services and recruits include teachers and other jobs, but the community does what it can to support them.
According to a documentary by PBS, they understand their enemy. Once a militia armed by the country's former dictator Bashir, RSF was responsible for mass civilian slaughter and fight rebels in Dafur.
The RSF was absorbed into the army in 2013 and fought home and abroad building up strength and experience. Bashir used them to crack down on popular protests in 2019.
After he fell from power, his other elite army units were disbanded, making RSF all powerful. Thats when in 2021 RSF leader united with army chief to seize power from the people in a miliary coup.
When the war erupted between the two sides shortly after, the RSF quickly seized major territory like capital Khartoum and part of Dafur.
In 2024 the SAF gained some back and reportedly began buying weapons from Iran and Russia.
Today, over 11 million have been displaced from their homes and the RSF is still forcibly recruiting even children.
If this war does end, while people agree with fighting against RSF, leaders of Sudan's civil society resistance committees say they "do not believe the army has no interest in ruling the country" and for the children, the hopes built after the revolution 6 years ago are completely shattered.
Why was the conversation muted in the west?
Multiple foreign governments including UAE, Russia, Iran, and Saudi Arabia have taken an interest in the conflict supplying weapons on both sides.
The UAE is accused of supplying weapons to the RSF smuggled in via Chad with the US as one of the leading arms traders to the UAE.
"The US should stop supplying the UAE..... do you want the war in Sudan to continue? Or....do they want to preserve the human rights of the Sudanese?"
"You cannot bring democracy in the middle of the guns, and you cannot bring democracy when you are using militias." Vice President Agar stated to PBS.
He says they are planning to establish a democratic system and prepared to hand over power when the war is over.
These quotes were just 9 months ago in August 2024 recorded by PBS.
Also, according to PBS reporting, the battlefield leaves Emirate armored vehicles, Russian tanks, some newly imported and some legacy weapons from other parts of conflict across the continent like Libya's civil war in 2014.
PBS found evidence of additional Emirate, Russian, Turkish and Serbian ammunition and United States small arms, with tracking mechanisms carefully removed.
Emirates deny supplying RSF but have engaged in talks about Sudan's future [4, 5].
US envoy Perillo failed talks at Geneva and the US Envoy position has remained vacant since Trump's presidency.
UN backed human rights investigators have accused both sides in the civil war of war crimes [6].
Happening Now
According to the BBC, the SAF triumphantly announced the recapture of central Khartoum in March [1].
"It broadcast pictures of its leader, Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, walking through the ruins of the capital's Republican Palace, which had been controlled by the paramilitaries of the RSF, since the earliest days of the war in April 2023" the BBC reports [1]. This map posted by Sky News also maps the movement of territory.
SAF deployed weapons newly acquired from Egypt, Turkey, and other Middle Eastern countries including Qatar and Iran. But now with its offensives stalled, the RSF has responded with a devasting drone attack on Port Sudan, a main entry point for humanitarian aid [1].
According to BBC, "these were long-range sophisticated drones, which the army accuses the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of supplying - a charge the UAE rejects, along with well-documented reports that it has been backing the RSF during the 27-month conflict" [1].
As of recently, the BBC reported that RSF has been surrounding for surrender the capital of North Darfur, el-Fasher, which is defended by a coalition of Darfurian former rebels, known as the Joint Forces, allied with SAF.
Most of the fighters for the Joint Forces are ethnic Zaghawa, who have been in fierce conflict with the Arab groups that form the core of the RSF.
The pressure on el-Fasher is increasing as the RSF captured desert garrisons on the border with Libya held by the Joint Forces.
The military has accused forces loyal to Libyan strongman Gen Khalifa Haftar, who controls the east of the country and is also a reported beneficiary of Emirati support, of joining in the attack [1].
Also according to BBC reporting, different groupings are aligned with Burhan, with Hemedti, or attempting to stake out a neutral position. "They are all active on social media, polarised, acrimonious and fragmented" [1].
Many civic revolutionary groups are losing their footing due to USAID rescindments, grant cancellations, and other donors not stepping into the breach [1].
The army and RSF both see any form of civic activism as a threat [1].
What you can do to help
To aid in the Sudan conflicts, you the reader, can help volunteer for humanitarian organizations working on the ground, advocate for peace and humanitarian access, and raise awareness about the crisis.
Specifically, you can donate to organizations like the UN Crisis Relief, UNHCR, the International Rescue Committee, World Vision, UNICEF, and Doctors Without Borders, or support local Sudanese charities.
Local Liberation Groups
Top 6 Sudanese Charities to Donate to 2025 | The Sudanese American Physicians Association (SAPA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization since October 2019 and based in Plano, TX.
You can also advocate for increased funding and access for humanitarian aid by calling your congresswomen and men, writing to them, and share information about the crisis to encourage others to get involved.
This conflict offers many lessons in Environmental Justice.
Root Cause Analysis: Understanding Sudan's crisis means listening to and learning from centuries of colonization, marginalization, and environmental exploitation.
Extractive Economies Hurt the People and the Planet: Foreign powers support regimes and militias not for democracy, but for inequitable grabs of resources like gold, oil, and land; destroying community lives and land.
Environmental Vulnerability, Conflict and Instability: Water, food, and even healthcare and safety are not just inequitably distributed and now scarce, they're being used as weapons; highlighting a dangerous pattern between violence and vulnerability.
Community is the Resistance: Despite everything, Sudanese civil society, especially youth, women, teachers, and doctors have led peaceful movements and continue to organize. But they are under-resourced and under threat.
Accountability Must Be Global: Environmental justice, political stability, peace, social equity requires global responsibility from arms traders, oil companies, and complicit governments
Support Must Be Directed and Just: Aid needs to go not only to international NGOs but to Sudanese-led groups working on the ground. Justice comes from community empowerment.
The world is at fault for the Sudan crisis because colonial legacies, resource exploitation, global political deals, and international neglect have all fed into the violence and instability. What looks certain actors label as a civil war is actually tied to centuries of global power imbalances.
Spoken by Dasia Sade, "the revolution will not be byte sized" y'all.
Thanks for reading,
Carley
Sources
[1] https://bbc.com/news/articles/cg717385nj7o - Sudan in danger of self -destructing as conflict and famine reign by Alex De Waal for BBC, June 16, 2025
[2] https://jamestown.org/program/gold-arms-and-islam-understanding-the-conflict-in-sudan/ - Gold, Arms, and Islam: Understanding the Conflict in Sudan by Andrew McGregor, April, 28, 2023
[3] History of Sudan | Events, People, Dates, Map, & Facts | Britannica
[4] https://youtu.be/aSU9u-GlRMs?si=X8HQIbohdJ2NS7uD - Inside Sudan’s civil war -- Watch the full documentary by PBS, September 16, 2024
[5] https://youtu.be/6gZ63ulOoqw?si=C6n1qCFghnsgxhjW - War in Sudan | DW Documentary, March 4, 2025
[6] U.S. special envoy on global efforts to aid millions displaced by Sudan’s civil war | PBS News September 6, 2025
[7] What’s at the Crux of Sudan and South Sudan’s Oil Dispute? | PBS News - February 22, 2012
[8] The Sudan crisis: A power struggle by design | Conflict News | Al Jazeera
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