You’ve surely heard of the war in Sudan by now, as it’s been ongoing since April 15, 2023 and has caused the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. In the days and months ahead, I will share actionable advocacy items, especially for Americans. For now, the following webinar and resources from World Beyond War provide some basic context so you can bear witness to the human suffering in Sudan and begin advocacy for peace, wherever you are in the world (source).
Since April 2023, the Sudanese people have been suffering the horror of two leaders vying for power: General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and General Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo. The war in Sudan has resulted in the devastating loss of more than 150,000 civilian lives and the displacement of more than 12 million people. The country is the scene of human rights violations, with widespread abuses particularly affecting civilians caught up in the clashes.
Behind this narrative, so often presented in the Western media, of a rivalry between two leaders, lie other, far more complex conflicts, involving a constellation of international players who are supporting the war with weapons and troops.
This war must end. Sign the petition and use the tools on this page to share the campaign!
Fact Sheet: The War in Sudan
Overview
Sudan is the third largest country in Africa, located in Northeast Africa, bordered by Egypt, the Red Sea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, Chad, and Libya. Its population is approximately 44 million. The official language is Arabic, with Islam as the predominant religion.
Historical Context
Sudan has been independent since 1956. Its history has been marked with major events such as the split of South Sudan in 2011, which led to serious economic challenges. In 2019, a military coup ousted Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir, launching an era of transitional government. Another military coup disrupted the transition process two years later. Adding to
political instability, tensions built up over decades, exacerbated by contemporary dynamics, have resulted in the current civil war that broke out in 2023[1].
Causes of the 2023 Civil War
The war in Sudan[2] is rooted in a combination of historical, political, economic, ethnic, and social factors[3]. The control of natural resources is a major contention point, exacerbated by the influence of foreign powers with strategic interests in Sudan. But the direct cause of the war was the announcement of a military reform aimed at integrating the Rapid Support
Forces (RSF) into the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). This measure was perceived by the Commander of the RSF and his supporters as an attempt to reduce their influence and centralize power.
Key Players
The two main parties to the conflict are the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), the country’s military body led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a powerful militia group led by General Mohamed Hamdane Dagalo known as Himmeti[4]. Various
other rebel groups and militias from regions like Darfur are involved. Several countries are involved, some of which are the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Libya, Russia, Ukraine, Egypt and Chad[5]. They seek to influence the country’s internal dynamics to protect their strategic and economic interests. One of the major stakes lies in the control of natural resources that are not only vital to the Sudanese economy, but also to global energy flows, motivating them to intervene to ensure their secure access and exploitation.
Impact of the War
The civil war in Sudan since 2023 has resulted in the devastating loss of more than 150,000 civilian lives and the displacement of more than 12 million people[6]. As of April 2023, Sudan is the country with the most displaced people[7] in the world. An estimated 25 million people will be at risk of famine by 2025[8]. The country is the scene of human rights violations, with widespread abuses particularly affecting civilians caught up in the clashes. There is widespread gender-based violence. Many women prefer to commit suicide instead of being violated[9].
What We Ask for The Return of Peace
While the international talks and negotiations are ongoing, the United Arab Emirates should stop supplying ammunition to the Rapid Support Forces[10], Iran should stop supplying drones to the Sudanese Armed Forces[11], and Russia and Ukraine should halt the flow of weapons, military equipment and troops to Sudan[12]. Western countries are called upon to facilitate peace talks and negotiations, provide resources to address immediate needs, and invest in post-conflict reconstruction and development.
A Call to Action
The path to peace in Sudan is complex, requiring sustained international commitment and local cooperation. Initiatives like World BEYOND War’s aim to raise awareness and promote peaceful solutions. Learn more about the war in Sudan, sign the petition, and get involved at: worldbeyondwar.org/hands-off-sudan
Footnotes:
[1] Amnesty International, “Violence, death and suffering in Sudan”:
https://www.amnesty.org/en/projects/sudan-conflict/
[2] Emma Bougerol, “Soudan : la guerre dont on ne parle pas” :
https://basta.media/soudan-la-guerre-dont-on-ne-parle-pas
[3] Human Rights Watch, “Sudan: New Mass Ethnic Killings, Pillage in Darfur”:
https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/11/26/sudan-new-mass-ethnic-killings-pillage-darfur
[4] Eliott Brachet “Au Soudan, une paix introuvable entre deux généraux ennemis” :
https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2024/02/08/au-soudan-une-paix-introuvable-entre
-deux-generaux-ennemis_6215447_3212.html
[5] The Conversation, “Sudan: the longer the conflict lasts, the higher the risk of a regional
war”:
https://theconversation.com/sudan-the-longer-the-conflict-lasts-the-higher-the-risk-of-a-
regional-war-204931
[6] “Soudan: le Conseil de sécurité informé des efforts humanitaires de l’ONU sur fond d’appels
au cessez-le-feu et d’accusations d’ingérences étrangères”:
https://press.un.org/fr/2024/cs15947.doc.htm
[7] Ibid.
[8] Ibid.
[9] Ian Wafula, “Women raped in war-hit Sudan die by suicide, activists say”:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/women-raped-in-war-hit-sudan-die-by-suicide-a
ctivists-say/ar-AA1telI2?ocid=BingNewsSerp
[10] Euronews with AP, “UAE accused of fueling war by providing weapons to Sudan’s
paramilitary rivals”:
https://www.euronews.com/2024/06/19/uae-accused-of-fueling-war-by-providing-weapon
s-to-sudans-paramilitary-rivals
[11] Abdelrahman Abu Taleb, “Evidence of Iran and UAE drones used in Sudan war”:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2vvjz652j1o
[12] Julian McBride, “How and Why Sudan Represents the Second Front in the Russo-Ukrainian
War”:
https://thegeopolitics.com/how-and-why-sudan-represents-the-second-front-in-the-russo
-ukrainian-war/
Download these images for use on social media:
#HandsOffSudan #KeepEyesOnSudan
Seeds Will Grow 
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