A Brief History: From Coup to Civil War

On 15 April 2023, tensions between Sudan's top generals exploded into open conflict when the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) attacked key military sites in Khartoum, igniting clashes with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). Both factions trace their cooperation to the October 2021 coup, when Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (SAF) and Gen. Mohamed "Hemedti" Dagalo (RSF) overthrew the civilian-led transitional government.

Disputes over integrating the RSF into the national army and timing for a return to civilian rule culminated in full-scale warfare by April 2023. What began as a power struggle between two generals has since devastated an entire nation of 50 million people.

Who's Who: The Two Sides

Despite repeated peace talks—including Saudi-mediated efforts and a February 2025 RSF-led "Sudan Founding Charter" signed in Nairobi—neither side has managed to secure lasting peace. Cities and displacement camps remain battlegrounds.

The Genocide Determination

The genocide determination built on earlier findings. In December 2023, Blinken had concluded that both SAF and RSF members committed war crimes, and that RSF and allied Arab militias committed crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing.

A UN panel of experts found that the RSF and allied militias killed up to 15,000 people in El-Geneina, the capital of West Darfur, in targeted ethnic killings that began just days after the war broke out. The RSF has systematically murdered men and boys—including infants—on an ethnic basis, and deliberately targeted women and girls from certain ethnic groups for rape and sexual slavery.

The Humanitarian Catastrophe

• Displacement: Over 14 million Sudanese have been uprooted—more than 9.5 million internally and over 4.3 million as refugees in neighboring Chad, Egypt, South Sudan, and Ethiopia. This is the world's largest displacement crisis.
• Casualties: The former US envoy for Sudan estimates up to 150,000 deaths since April 2023, though chaos and restricted access mean exact figures remain elusive. The Sudan Doctors Union estimated in January 2025 that 522,000 children had died due to malnutrition alone.
• Healthcare collapse: WHO reports that 37% of health facilities are non-functional. Since April 2023, WHO has verified 201 attacks on healthcare, resulting in 1,858 deaths and 490 injuries—over 80% of all healthcare attack deaths globally in 2025.
• Education: Over 10 million children are out of school, with classrooms destroyed or occupied by armed groups.

Famine Conditions

Sudan is experiencing the most extreme hunger crisis globally. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC)—the global standard for measuring hunger severity—has confirmed famine conditions (IPC Phase 5) in multiple areas:

• El Fasher (North Darfur) — under RSF control since October 2025 after an 18-month siege
• Kadugli (South Kordofan) — besieged, with families surviving on leaves and animal feed
• Dilling (South Kordofan) — conditions similar to Kadugli but data too limited for official classification

An additional 20 areas across Darfur and Kordofan face high risk of famine through May 2026. As of September 2025:

• 21.2 million people (45% of the population) face acute food insecurity
• 375,000 people face catastrophic hunger (on the brink of starvation)
• 6.3 million people are in emergency conditions (IPC Phase 4)

The crisis has been worsened by both sides blocking humanitarian aid. The RSF has looted cities, destroyed harvests, and targeted humanitarian operations, while the SAF has restricted food shipments into RSF-controlled areas. Global aid cuts—including a 90-day freeze on US foreign aid in early 2025—forced the closure of 80% of emergency food kitchens.

Why It's "Forgotten"

• Media fatigue: As global headlines chase new flashpoints, Sudan's conflict has faded from front pages despite being the world's largest humanitarian crisis.
• Access restrictions: Both factions severely limit journalists and aid agencies, making firsthand reporting nearly impossible. Sudan's government has suspended journalists and restricted media access.
• Competing crises: From Gaza to Ukraine, other conflicts monopolize international attention and resources.
• Remote locations: Much of the worst violence occurs in Darfur and Kordofan—regions far from media hubs and difficult to access even in peacetime.

Yet, for millions in Khartoum's shattered neighborhoods and Darfur's parched camps, each day brings renewed violence and desperation.

Key Developments in 2025

What Can Be Done?

• Sustained reporting: International media must re-engage, spotlighting daily atrocities and human resilience.
• Diplomatic pressure: Governments should leverage sanctions and arms embargoes to compel both generals back to meaningful talks. The UAE's role in arming the RSF must be addressed.
• Humanitarian access: Both parties must allow safe, unimpeded humanitarian corridors. The WFP urgently needs $700 million to continue operations through June 2026.
• Accountability: Support the ICC investigation into Darfur and independent fact-finding missions documenting war crimes for future prosecutions.
• Support civil society: Bolster Sudanese-led peace initiatives and the thousands of volunteer-run mutual aid groups providing lifelines to civilians.

Watch: DW Documentary

DW's video report "War in Sudan: The Forgotten Crisis" documents the lived experiences of displaced families, nurses working without supplies, and activists striving for peace amid the rubble.

Conclusion

Sudan's war is neither new nor unexpected. For over 1,000 days, Sudanese communities have endured unthinkable violence, mass displacement, and starvation. The warning signs were present, yet the international community failed to take decisive action to protect civilians.

The people of Sudan face a triple threat: war, genocide, and famine. Without immediate humanitarian intervention, hundreds of thousands could perish. All of us, collectively, have a responsibility to uphold the rights and dignity of others, wherever they are. We must refuse to be silent.