The Sudan Civil War, driven by a brutal power struggle between the RSF and the national army, has left millions displaced and thousands dead. As global powers remain passive, Sudan’s people face hunger, violence, and despair in one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
Sudan, a country known for its rich mineral resources and cultural values, has been suffering in silence for almost 3 years, and the world has conveniently stayed silent. A report published by the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab revealed that millions of bodies are being disposed of and people are being killed amid the Sudan Civil War. As the reports started making waves on social media, the mass displacement crisis has left the world horrified.
The roots of the Sudan civil war lie in decades of political instability and unresolved power struggles that followed the fall of President Omar al-Bashir in 2019. After Bashir was removed from power, a fragile transitional government was created between civilian leaders and the military, but cooperation soon broke down. Two major military groups, the Sudanese Armed Forces led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, became rivals for control of the state and its resources.
The Rapid Support Forces originated from the Janjaweed militias that fought in the Darfur conflict during the early 2000s and later developed into a strong paramilitary organization with its own leadership and economic base. Disagreements over how and when the Rapid Support Forces would be absorbed into the national army led to growing tension that finally erupted into open warfare in April 2023. The fighting quickly spread from the capital city, Khartoum, to other regions, deepening long-standing divisions and creating one of the worst humanitarian crises in the country’s history.
The fighting in Sudan broke out because of a power struggle between the national army and the Rapid Support Forces. Disagreements over the plan to merge the two forces and growing mistrust between their leaders, General Abdel Fattah al Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, led to open conflict. Both sides wanted control over the country’s resources and political future, and the absence of a stable civilian government allowed the tension to turn into war in April 2023.
The Sudan Civil War was not a topic of discussion of all the major news outlets until the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab published one of the most crucial reports regarding the war in late October. Slowly, images of destruction, killings, and sexual assault of women in Sudan flooded the internet.
"The mass grave activity that HRL identifies in this report includes the creation of trench and kettle pit graves. This activity is distinct from burial activity previously identified in El-Fasher before RSF captured the city. Yale HRL’s reporting on burial and body disposal activities in and around El-Fasher prior to 26 October 2025 has concentrated on the creation of individuated burial mounds in existing cemeteries or newly created areas that are oriented toward Mecca. This burial activity has been visible in civilian areas and in military areas related to SAF, Joint Forces, and RSF. This individuated type of burial is consistent with respectful burial practices by communities that are honoring their own dead." mentioned the report by Yale HRL.
Read the full report by Yale Humanitarian Research Lab here!
A report by the UNICEF revealed that more than 30.4 million people require humanitarian assistance in Sudan. More than 12+ people have been forcibly displaced, and the situation keeps worsening day by day.
Despite the extreme situation and millions of people requiring assistance, the response in the Sudan remains critically underfunded, jeopardizing the well-being of vulnerable children and families. - UNICEF
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Read the full report by UNICEF here!
UN/OHCHR has documented 3,384 civilian deaths in Jan–Jun 2025 alone, and models/satellite analyses indicate the true toll is far higher. Food and water shortages have made people resort to self-inflicted harm and suicide. With severe child malnutrition and collapsing health services, Sudan's suffering persists without any bounds.
The war in Sudan has drawn concern from many countries and international groups, but action has been slow and limited. The United Nations and African Union have called for ceasefires and peace talks, while neighboring nations like Egypt, Chad, and South Sudan are struggling to handle the flow of refugees. Some reports suggest that the United Arab Emirates and other regional players have supported different sides, adding to the tension. Aid agencies continue to face major challenges in reaching civilians because of violence, blocked roads, and a lack of security.
Read this article on the UAE's involvement in the war!
The conflict in Sudan is not just a fight between two armies but a struggle that has torn apart families and communities. Millions have been forced to leave their homes, and hunger and disease are spreading fast. Without stronger international pressure and real dialogue between the warring groups, peace will remain distant. For now, the people of Sudan continue to bear the heaviest cost of a war they did not choose.
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