Sudan’s Civil War: A Nation on the Brink as Conflict Escalates
NAIROBI, KENYA – June 15, 2025 – Sudan’s devastating civil war, now in its third year, continues to plunge the nation into an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe, marked by escalating violence, widespread displacement, and the looming specter of famine. The conflict, primarily between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), has shattered the lives of millions and drawn increasing international concern.
Recent weeks have seen a significant intensification of clashes and a deepening of the crisis. Just days ago, the Rapid Support Forces claimed to have seized a strategic triangular zone along the border with Libya and Egypt, further solidifying their presence in the region. This move followed accusations by the Sudanese army that forces from Libyan commander Khalifa Hifter were supporting the RSF’s advance, a claim rejected by Hifter’s side as an attempt to “export the Sudanese internal crisis.”
Humanitarian Crisis Worsens Amidst Renewed Fighting
The human cost of the conflict is staggering. The war has directly killed at least 24,000 people, though the true figure is likely much higher. Over 13 million people have been driven from their homes, with approximately 4 million seeking refuge in neighboring countries. Sudan is now home to the world’s largest and fastest displacement crisis.
Famine is a dire reality in several parts of the country. The UN has warned that areas near Khartoum are at severe risk of famine, with severe levels of “hunger, destitution and desperation” reported. Children are already dying of hunger in at least five locations, including the Zamzam camp in North Darfur, where the RSF launched a full-scale assault in April 2025 on the largest internally displaced persons (IDP) camp, further exacerbating the crisis. Both warring parties have been accused of using starvation as a weapon, with the SAF restricting aid access to RSF-occupied areas.
The healthcare system has all but collapsed, with over 80% of hospitals in conflict zones being non-operational. Disease outbreaks, including cholera, are rampant and compounded by widespread malnutrition. Tragic reports of five UN food aid workers killed in an ambush in early June underscore the extreme dangers faced by those attempting to deliver desperately needed assistance.
Ongoing Clashes and Shifting Frontlines
While the Sudanese Armed Forces declared Khartoum state “completely free” of the RSF in May 2025, regaining control of key sites like the presidential palace and the international airport after intense battles, fighting continues relentlessly across the nation. The RSF has intensified its efforts to take El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, which hosts the last major SAF base in the region and a massive IDP population. Reports indicate renewed RSF shelling in El Fasher, causing civilian casualties.
Recent SAF offensives have been noted in central and northern Sudan, including gains along a key highway connecting central and western Sudan. The SAF is also attempting to break the long-standing RSF siege on Dilling in South Kordofan. In a concerning development, Port Sudan, the SAF’s de facto capital and a critical entry point for humanitarian aid, has come under daily drone attacks attributed to the RSF, damaging vital infrastructure.
Regional Implications and Stalled Peace Efforts
The conflict’s ripple effects are felt across the Horn of Africa, with millions of refugees flooding into neighboring countries already grappling with their own challenges. Foreign involvement, including alleged arms shipments from various nations, continues to fuel the prolonged conflict.
International peace efforts have, so far, yielded little progress. The Jeddah process, brokered by Saudi Arabia and the US, remains a key diplomatic avenue, but a lasting ceasefire has yet to be achieved. The appointment of Kamil Idris as Sudan’s Prime Minister in May 2025 was met with cautious optimism by the UN and African Union, with hopes it might mark a step towards an inclusive, civilian-led government and advance the peace process. However, the deep mistrust between the warring factions and the proliferation of various mediation initiatives continue to complicate a unified approach to ending the bloodshed.
As the Sudanese people endure unimaginable suffering, the international community faces the monumental challenge of delivering aid, ensuring accountability for atrocities, and pushing for a comprehensive and sustainable peace. The “forgotten crisis” of Sudan demands urgent and sustained global attention.
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