Sudan’s Civil War… 21st Century’s Worst Humanitarian Nightmare?

Within approximately a year of the war, millions of Sudanese civilians remained trapped between warring factions, and Sudan’s uphill fight for democracy spiraled into one of the world’s most ravaging humanitarian crises: killing tens of thousands and leaving millions in hunger, disease, and displacement. How did this crisis begin and what was the cost?

Origins of the Crisis

The genesis of the conflict dates back to 15 April 2023 in Khartoum, Sudan’s capital, where the fighting between the two military factions inaugurated: the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the country’s de facto ruler and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), commanded by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti. The RSF was founded and led by Sudan’s former dictator leader, Omar al-Bashir, who gathered the Janjaweed militias, notorious for their violent atrocities during the Darfur conflict. 

Signs of the conflict between these two military forces were heralded in 2019 when al-Bashir's ousting occurred. As Sudan embarked on an unstable transition from dictatorship to civilian rule, a power-sharing agreement was created between the military rulers and civilian leaders. Yet, in October 2021, the RSF and SAF orchestrated a coup, transitioning into a full-fledged power clash between the two major military factions. As the tensions escalated between the two military factions—aiming for dominance in the country’s geopolitical and economic spheres—the fighting in April 2023 in Khartoum precluded the prolonged, devastating conflict.

The Course of the War

Ever since the battle between RSF and SAF in April 2023, the conflict between the two military factions continued and was focused especially on Khartoum, the country’s capital city, and the Darfur region. Subsequently, the cities of Khartoum and Omdurman were partitioned by these two militias. For the following months, the status of the war mainly remained a stalemate; the two sides were joined by rebel groups that once fought for the Sudanese government. During the war, reports of widespread atrocities, including ethnic violence in Darfur, emerged, and the humanitarian situation continued to deteriorate, with millions displaced, injured, and starving. 

Currently, the conflict remains unresolved. In Khartoum, the RSF mainly dominates as the capital fell into them shortly after the war began, yet the conflict is still ongoing. In addition, during recent weeks, the RSF has launched in regions of South Khartoum as well as Darfur, which has been the epicenter of the conflict for years as it remains a stronghold of Hemedti.

The Humanitarian Status of the War

Consequently, the power clash between the two military factions has induced the 

UN to label the conflict as “one of the worst humanitarian nightmares in recent human history.” As of 2025, approximately 30.4 million individuals require humanitarian assistance with 12 million people homeless, making it the world’s biggest displacement crisis. 

Food crisis is also a massive problem in Sudan, as 26 million people in Sudan are facing food insecurity with famine being declared in regions of Darfur. International aid remains an unresolved issue; Sudan is continuing to appeal to the UN for $1.51 bn, yet only 27% is funded.