The International Conflict Not Enough Are Talking About: Sudan

Photo by Fox News

You live in a ghost town. Your neighborhood- once filled with the laughter of children and friends, is now eerily silent. The stillness is broken only by the sounds of missiles and gunfire. The market down the street has run out of food. Houses that were once abandoned, are now taken over by soldiers. As you pack your life in bags, you gaze upon the war-torn city around you. You don’t know when you’ll see it again. You wonder if home will ever feel like home again. 

Sudan is a country located in Northeast Africa and home to 47.8 million men, women, and children. Today, 10.2 million people are displaced. 7.9 million of those are stuck in a warzone. 25 million people, including 14 million children need immediate humanitarian aid, and 18 million are facing severe hunger. These numbers are some of the highest seen in their history. 

International coverage of this ongoing conflict continues to be limited and brief. 

In 1882, Great Britain took over Sudan. The borders they drew encapsulated over 500 ethnic groups, each with their own cultural traditions. Sudan gained independence on Jan. 1, 1956. At the time, a civil war erupted between the North and the South. There were many reasons behind the war, but the main motive was that the Southern Sudanese wanted autonomy from the Northern Sudanese because of religious and ethnic differences. The civil war between these two regions started in 1955, halted in 1972, started again in 1983 and continued until South Sudan's independence in 2011. It is believed to be one of the longest civil wars in modern history.

Economic challenges persisted in Sudan starting in 1983 when then-President Gaafar Nemiri enacted the Sharia Law. Shortly after, civil unrest grew, and a military coup overthrew Nemiri. Numerous political sects ruled Sudan until 1989 when Colonel Omar Al-Bashir took over. Seeing how easily the government rose and fell, Bashir set up a system that surrounded him with his military protectors while keeping them in check. 

In 2003, Darfur was left poor and starving. An important region located in western Sudan, rich in natural resources and livestock, the people of Darfur felt unappreciated and unaccepted for decades. After years of ethnic isolation- Darfur rebelled. Bashir, in retaliation, funded the Janjaweed, a militia group in the region. They brutally wiped out men, women, and children, destroying over 3,000 villages. 

His most trusted official in Janjaweed was Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti. Bashir gave the Janjaweed official status and named them the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). In 2017, he placed Hemedti directly under his command which allowed him to make political connections, take control of gold mines, and smuggle weapons. 

An economic crisis arose, and the Sudanese started protesting in 2018. After a few months, the RSF led by Hemedti and the newly named military, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan teamed up to bring Bashir out of power. The Sudanese people were relieved that the dictator under which they suffered brutality was finally out of power, but remained wary since the men who participated in the violence Bashir dealt out were left in charge.

Sudan required international intervention after the RSF began killing hundreds at protests. The United States of America, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, and the African Union issued a government-sharing solution where the military held power for 21 months, and eventually had to give it up to the civilians for 18. Both Hemedti and Burhan were put in charge of a transitional council and, at first, acting in line with the agreement. They put prime minister Abdallah Hamdok in place in 2021. But in October of the same year, the men staged a coup and the prime minister resigned in January 2022. Burhan became the new leader and Hemedti his second-in-command. Soon, an argument about the timing of a merge between the RSF and SAF caused escalations between the two allies. 

On April 15, 2023, the RSF attacked government sights through airstrikes, starting the civil war that is ongoing as of late September of 2024 between the RSF and SAF.

As the world watches this violence unfold, it is crucial to remember that this war does not define Sudan. With a history alongside that of Ancient Egypt, Sudan and the people occupying its borders have overcome so much. Years of oppression, imperialism, and ethnic cleansing, we have seen empires rise and fall. And behind it all, are people- diverse as can be. With skin tones ranging from beige to dark brown to curls that reach up the sky or fall past the shoulders. Despite differences in religion, ethnic background, or even language- we are a community that looks out for one another. 

From the time the war has started until now, Sudanese celebrations and events have not stopped. Our communities live all over the world and are keeping the culture alive as the war rages on. We continue to raise awareness about our history, our cultural practices, and the ongoing conflict. So how can you help? Donate to organizations working on the ground, who are helping people in this difficult time. Write emails and letters to your state representatives and congresspeople to support ceasefire deals. And most importantly: keep all eyes on Sudan.