Two Years Of War: What’s Happening In Sudan (image:x.com/husainhaqqani)
Tuesday (April 15, 2025) marked two years of civil war in Sudan. Described by the UN as the largest humanitarian crisis, thousands were killed and 13 billion people were displaced since its beginning. On the eve of the second anniversary of the war, a conference held in the UK but failed to sign a joint agreement for a ceasefire talks due to divisions among Arab countries.
Origin
The war led by the Sudanese military Sudanese Armed Force (SAF) and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) started on April 15, 2023. After African country’s long term dictator Umar al-Bashir was ousted by military in 2019 following mass protests for democracy, an interim joint military unity government was formed in the country. The army including RSF seized power once again by a coup against the interim government in 2021 leading to the formation of a military council, a junta.
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The new military administration was headed by the head of SAF, Gen Abdul fattah al Burhan with the leader of RSF, Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, assigned as his deputy.
Disagreements between both leaders were the core reason for this long war. Al burhani and Hemedti appeared to be divided on different matters which were predominantly on establishing civilian rule and integration of RSF into the army. Hemdti regretted the 2021 coup that led to widening of the divide between him and Burhani. On the integration of RSF, they disagreed on the timeline as RSF demanded 10 years while the army gave only two years. Besides, the question for the leadership of the army after the integration had heated the faction further.
These tensions escalated in February 2023 when RSF deployed the forces in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan. The move was seen as a threat by the army which eventually led to the shooting between both factions on April 15 in the capital, despite an agreement on March 11 for withdrawal of RSF. On that day the gunfire was exchanged in key locations including the army headquarters, the Ministry of Defence, the presidential palace, and Khartoum international airport.
Escalation
The attacks between both factions started in Khartoum later appeared as a widespread war in various regions of the country. Another main region were the war centered was around Darfur. According to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED), from April 15, 2023, to March 28, 2025, at least 11,292 attacks were recorded in which 48 % of the total attacks were in Khartoum while Darfur witnessed 20%. There were other urban areas as well in which the attacks are still going on.
Over the course of continuing war, two sides were joined by various rebel groups resulting further escalations. When the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) supported the army, Sudan People’s Liberation Movement- North (SPLMN) and a Tamazuj movement joined RSF.
As the war is going on, the army recaptured many areas from RSF, especially Khartoum by retaking the capital from the rival including the presidential palace and the airport in March 2025. However, RSF is still holding the major parts of Darfur.
Impacts
The actual number of casualties of the two years of war in Sudan are unknown. According to the UN, at least 24,000 people have been killed so far, though activists say the number is far higher. The attacks by RSF in recent days at Zamzam Camp in North Darfur alone killed more than 300 as per UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
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More than 14 million people of Sudan have been forced to flee their homes due to the civil war in the country. The UN says Sudan is facing the world’s worst displacement crisis. Among the displaced 11.3 million are displaced within the country while others are moving to other countries like Chad, South Sudan, and Egypt, as per the latest reports of International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Moreover, Sudan has become the only country in the world experiencing famine. In August 1,2024 the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Famine Review Committee (FRC) concluded that IPC Phase 5 famine conditions are prevalent and ongoing in parts of North Darfur, including the Zamzam camp. The UN has said that Sudan faces the worst humanitarian crisis ever recorded in the world. According to non-profit organisation Action Against Hunger, almost 25 million Sudanese people need food aid.
(This story is part of a Timeline internship project)
