By Francis Ahov
For two years, Sudan has been mired in catastrophe. More than 30 million people are suffering from hunger and displacement as the country remains engulfed in a devastating civil war.
Sudanese civilians endure relentless airstrikes, the agony of forced displacement, and the horrors of famine and disease outbreaks.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported this year that the number of people fleeing the conflict has risen to nearly 15 million.
According to the UN agency, 64% of Sudan’s 47.5 million people are in urgent need of food assistance, while the country faces an unprecedented displacement crisis.
The report noted a 27% increase in the number of internally displaced people over the past year, reaching 11.5 million, while more than 3.3 million have sought refuge in neighboring countries.
The agency further highlighted that 84% of the 2.3 million displaced households are in dire need of food assistance, while 78% require non-food essentials such as shelter and fuel.
“More than 30% of Sudan’s population are now either refugees in neighboring countries or internally displaced,” the report stated.
These findings were compiled through a vast data-collection network consisting of 498 enumerators and 9,608 observers, monitoring displacement across 10,119 locations in all 18 Sudanese states.
Suppressing the Crisis
Despite mounting evidence from UN agencies and local organizations confirming the catastrophic humanitarian situation, Sudan’s military leadership— which has ruled since its 2021 coup against the civilian government—continues to suppress the extent of the crisis.
Analysts argue that the army’s leadership is actively concealing the scale of the disaster while rejecting all peaceful solutions, in stark contrast to the opposing party in the conflict, which has consistently expressed openness to negotiations aimed at ending the war.
Recently, in a speech marking Sudan’s 69th Independence Day, army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan declared that “Sudan will never return to its pre-April 15, 2023, state.” He also dismissed reports of famine in Sudan, calling them “mere fabrications” aimed at justifying foreign interference in Sudanese affairs.
However, the International Food Security Classification has confirmed famine in several areas, including Zamzam, Abu Shouk, and Al-Salam camps in North Darfur, as well as the western Nuba Mountains in South Kordofan.
The classification warns that famine is likely to spread to Umm Kaddada, Mellit, El-Fasher, Tawisha, and Al-Lait between December and May.
Additionally, the report identified 17 regions at risk of famine, spanning Khartoum, Al-Jazira, North, South, and East Darfur, and South Kordofan.
An estimated 24.6 million Sudanese are projected to face severe food insecurity through May.
International Isolation
Since the outbreak of war in April 2023, and amid erratic policies, Burhan has increasingly isolated Sudan on the international stage.
His unilateral decision to suspend Sudan’s membership in the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and his hostile rhetoric toward neighboring nations such as Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, and the Central African Republic—have only deepened Sudan’s regional isolation.
Kenya responded by reaffirming its commitment to restoring security, political stability, and civilian rule in Sudan through coordination with the United Nations and the African Union.
Kenyan officials emphasized that “the conflict in Sudan continues to devastate a country that, just four years ago, was on a promising path toward stability, democracy, and prosperity.”
In yet another attempt to drag neighboring countries into a broader regional conflict, Sudanese army deputy commander Yasser Al-Atta recently issued a warning to Chad, declaring that N’Djamena Airport and Umm Jaras Airport were “legitimate military targets.” He also accused South Sudan of harboring “treacherous and corrupt influence networks.”
Chad strongly condemned Al-Atta’s statements, deeming them an act of war and asserting its right to self-defense.
Chad’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement warning that his remarks posed a direct threat to national security and regional stability.
The statement dismissed Sudanese accusations as an attempt to deflect blame for the country’s internal turmoil, stating, “The current situation is the result of Sudanese leaders’ policies, not any intervention from Chad.” The ministry urged Sudan’s military leadership to focus on immediately ending hostilities rather than issuing what it called “reckless threats.”
Deflection and Military Alliances
Reports suggest that Sudan’s military leadership is deliberately fueling tensions with neighboring countries to divert both domestic and international attention from its failures.
Other reports indicate that the army has allied itself with extremist factions and local militias tied to the Islamist movement, which seek to exploit the war for their own political and economic interests.
As long as violence serves their agenda, these groups are unlikely to support any meaningful ceasefire.
The civil war erupted in April 2023 after Sudan’s military leaders—who seized power in the October 2021 coup refused to hand over power to a civilian government.
Throughout the conflict, the army has consistently rejected all regional and international peace initiatives.
In June 2023, the African Union suspended Sudan’s membership, citing the military’s obstruction of peace efforts.
In September 2023, the United States imposed sanctions on Burhan and several military-linked entities, citing “gross human rights violations” and “deliberate obstruction of peace efforts.” The U.S. Treasury Department described these sanctions as part of broader efforts to hold Sudanese military leaders accountable.
Additionally, the army has been accused of weaponizing starvation by deliberately blocking humanitarian aid deliveries.
A February 2025 report by Human Rights Watch documented how the military has systematically obstructed relief shipments to war-torn areas.
A Stark Contrast in Approaches
Unlike the Sudanese army, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)—backed by civilian and secular forces—have shown consistent willingness to engage in peace efforts.
The RSF has also facilitated the passage of humanitarian aid to affected areas, a move confirmed by a United Nations report in January 2025.
The report stated, “The RSF has permitted the safe transit of relief convoys within its areas of control, in stark contrast to the restrictions imposed by the Sudanese army.”
This position has bolstered the RSF’s support among Sudan’s civilian political forces, while the military faces growing international condemnation.
In March 2025, the European Union issued an official statement calling for “accountability for those obstructing humanitarian aid and prolonging the conflict.”
The Author is a Global Security for Africa Research and Good Governance