The War in Sudan: Conflict Rages as the World Looks Away

While the international media fixes its attention on Ukraine and the Middle East, other equally devastating conflicts are comparatively forgotten. An example of this is the ongoing war in Sudan, a civil conflict primarily between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces. The war broke out on April 15, 2023, and, just seven months into the fighting, resulted in nearly 10,000 confirmed deaths as well as 5 million people displaced. Horrific stories of rape and violence have been widespread, with the United Nations Under-Secretary-General describing the conflict as, “one of the worst humanitarian nightmares in recent history.” Yet, despite these facts, the conflict has continued to receive minimal press coverage. Major news publications are more concerned with wars they view as more meaningful to the geopolitical state of the world, such as the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Palestine conflicts, writing off the Sudanese civil war as a petty power struggle.  

The war in Sudan is the result of decades of aggression and political tension. Since independence, the country has experienced over 15 military coups. These were seen recently in 2019 when the Islamist government of President Omar al-Bashir was overthrown, and again in 2021 when the Sudanese Armed Forces (with the help of the Rapid Support Forces) ousted the transitional government to, according to them, avert a civil war. This attempt to avoid conflict proved unsuccessful and, two years later, fighting erupted between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), despite once being allied. The RSF, led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo better known mononymously as Hemedti, has accused the SAF and particularly Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the de-facto leader of Sudan, of treason and plotting to bring Omar al-Bashir back into power. 

The conflict has been fierce, with little hope remaining for the possibility of a swift end to the violence. Fighting has been primarily concentrated around the Darfur region and the capital of Khartoum. In Khartoum, the RSF has already gained control of much of the city and forced the Sudanese government to relocate. Meanwhile, the Darfur region, which has seen conflict in the form of the Land Cruiser War since 2003, is now controlled almost entirely by the RSF. The humanitarian impact of the war across the country has been absolutely devastating. Sexual violence has been widespread, with various NGOs suggesting that cases of sexual assault have reached as high as 4,400 barely four weeks into the conflict. On top of this, ethnic violence has reached a new level. In Darfur, which has already been experiencing genocide since 2003, regular massacres against the region’s Masalit population have been reported. The RSF has been accused of committing these atrocities, with witnesses stating at least 1,000 Masalit were killed over just two days and estimates reaching the tens of thousands. Organizations and analysts have argued that the targeted killings of Masalit amount to another genocide. Aside from the direct violence, 42% of the 50 million people who live in Sudan are facing food scarcity and, unless the international community steps up, that number is only going to continue to grow. 

Thus the question remains, amid the full-scale conflict and widespread violence in Sudan, why has the international community remained silent? Aside from the occasional news story or comment, the world seems content to turn a blind eye. International media remains focused on conflicts they deem more important. Even the Russo-Ukraine War now seems to have been overshadowed by the Israeli invasion of Gaza, as it potentially looks to grow into a wider Middle-East conflict. Whereas governments, particularly those typically quick to involve themselves in conflicts such as the United States, have almost completely neglected the War in Sudan beyond the evacuation of their nationals. Even the United Nations has refused to take concrete steps in mitigating the crisis, despite urging from international rights groups to take action. 

The ongoing wars in Europe, the Middle East and elsewhere are horrific and, just as those conflicts should not take precedence over others, the suffering in Sudan should not overshadow the suffering anywhere else. Individuals living in relative safety have a responsibility towards populations caught up in conflict to promote justice, peace, and security in any way they can, both in Sudan and across the world. The least that can be done is to bring awareness to the atrocities being perpetrated and ensure that the stories do not go unheard. The response of the international community to the Sudanese conflict is shameful. The hundreds of billions in aid sent to geopolitically important conflicts like Ukraine and Israel is unconscionable when compared with the pittance being given to the people of Sudan and elsewhere. Major news outlets are more concerned with driving up viewership and maintaining Western narratives than shining a light on suffering across the world. On top of this, organizations like the United Nations, although they may have decent intentions, lack either the strength or the will to resolve the issues facing Sudan and all the forgotten regions of the world. Unless something changes in the way conflicts are seen and handled by the international community, we are doomed to continue down this bloody path.

Edited by Emma Benoudiz

Alexander Morris-Schwarz

Alexander Morris-Schwarz is a third-year student at McGill University where he is majoring in Political Science with a minor in Communication Studies. Alexander is currently a staff writer for Catalyst and he is interested in international relations and imperialism.