Sudan, Africa's third-largest country, is on the brink of a catastrophic famine as a 15-month civil conflict continues to ravage the nation. The ongoing strife between rival factions led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (known as Hemedti) has resulted in widespread devastation and humanitarian crises.
The United Nations reports that approximately 750,000 people are at risk of starvation, with 26.6 million Sudanese facing food insecurity. This dire situation has created the world's largest internal displacement crisis, forcing 11 million people to flee their homes. Additionally, the conflict has shuttered most schools, leaving 19 million children without access to education.
The warring parties, the Sudanese military and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), have been accused of numerous atrocities and war crimes. The RSF, which evolved from the Janjaweed militia known for its genocidal campaigns in Darfur two decades ago, has been particularly implicated in massacres and ethnic violence against non-Arab populations.
International aid efforts face significant challenges. A donor conference in Paris in April 2024 raised $2 billion, only half of the UN's requested amount. The World Food Program, the largest humanitarian organization globally, struggles to access affected areas due to ongoing violence and bureaucratic obstacles.
"The talks in Switzerland aim to reach a nationwide cessation of violence, enabling humanitarian access to all those in need, and develop a robust monitoring and verification mechanism to ensure implementation of any agreement."
Despite planned negotiations in Switzerland next month, previous ceasefires have been short-lived. The conflict is further complicated by external interference, with various countries supporting different factions. The UAE allegedly supports the RSF as part of its strategy to reduce Islamist influence in the region, while the Sudanese military receives support from Egypt, Iran, and Ukraine.
Amnesty International has documented the flow of weapons into Sudan from countries including China, Russia, Serbia, and Turkey, despite a two-decade-old UN arms embargo on Darfur. This influx of arms continues to fuel the conflict and hinder humanitarian efforts.
As the situation deteriorates, aid organizations warn of severe malnutrition, especially among children in Darfur. The international community faces mounting pressure to address this crisis and find a lasting solution to Sudan's conflict.