The Ongoing Crisis in Sudan and a Call for Global Action
The ongoing war in Sudan is the result of several long-standing tribal disputes throughout the country and its tumultuous history. This conflict did not start abruptly; for decades, Sudan has been one of the world’s most politically unstable countries, trapped in a never-ending cycle of tyranny and coup d'états. Civil and domestic wars have afflicted Sudan for forty of its sixty-eight years of independence. The current war in Sudan is between the Sudanese Army (SAF), led by General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by General Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dgalo. Unfortunately, neither of these leaders are concerned with the loss of infrastructure, progress, history, and lives; instead valuing gaining power by any measure, exploiting Sudan’s resources for foreign countries’ gain.
This power conflict erupted with the 2019 revolution against tyrant General Omar al-Bashir, Sudan’s seventh president from 1989 to 2019, with protests in response to the cost-of-living crisis. Living conditions were deteriorating across all economic classes; the price of bread increased from “one Sudanese pound ($0.02) to three Sudanese pounds ($0.063),” and the country faced a severe cooking oil and gas shortage for several months, forcing Sudanese to “wait for long hours and at times overnight in kilometers-long queues at gas stations." Furthermore, the price of imported goods rose by "170 percent," and the value of the Sudanese Pound (SDG) "depreciated against the dollar from "SDG 26" to "SDG 47" in only eight months (“Several killed in Sudan as protests over rising prices continue”). The Sudanese government imposed inflation, increased the price of imports, and raised bread and fuel prices, all of which were favored by the IMF. This sparked nationwide tension and dissatisfaction with the leadership.
In late December 2018, Sudanese civilians began peacefully protesting these brutal living conditions in Atbara and swiftly moved to Khartoum, the capital city. The authorities responded to the protests by declaring an emergency, limiting internet access, and blocking "social media platforms." The government also deployed the army and security forces, used "tear gas against demonstrators," and imposed a curfew. Violence ensued as the protests progressed from a cry against the declining level of living to demands for the resignation of Omar Al-Bashir and his regime. The military and other security personnel employed excessive brutality against demonstrators, beginning on December 31, 2018, with live fire. This violence lasted for months, with the Nile River turning red due to the blood of all the civilians whose bodies had been thrown into it.
Bashir made several unsuccessful attempts to appease demonstrators, as he refused to resign from his post, but the protests continued. The largest protest took place on April 6, 2019, the anniversary of the fall of former President Nimieri's dictatorship, with protesters marching to the military headquarters in Omdurman to stage a sit-in. On April 10, soldiers began protecting the demonstrators from security forces and the military opened fire on the National Intelligence and Security Service personnel who were confronting protestors. The military overthrew Omar Al Bashir and his dictatorship the following day, on April 11.
After months of unrest following Bashir's fall, the African Union suspended Sudan and led mediation attempts. The mediation resulted in the "constitutional declaration," which established a power-sharing agreement between the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC), a pro-democracy rebel group made up of the Sudanese Professionals Association, No to Oppression against Women Initiative, Sudanese Resistance Committee, and several marginalized tribes, and the military. This agreement established a Transitional Sovereignty Council composed of military and civilian officials who would rule until democratic elections in 2022 were held.
The Transitional Sovereignty Council members had a strained relationship, as there was a significant ideological divide between civilian and military members. It did not help that these "civilian members" were from the West and did not live in Sudan or understand what the Sudanese people wanted. Along with this conflict, Sudan is a large and diverse country with many warring tribes, a racial and language hierarchy, a significant wealth disparity, and a variety of other factors, causing the Council to be unprogressive and ineffective.
On the dawn of October 21, 2021, the head of the Military faction of Sudan’s Transitional Sovereignty Council, Lieutenant General Abdelfattah El Burhan, declared a State of Emergency in the country. After the military seized power Burhan arrested several civilian members of the Sovereignty Council, holding the Prime Minister and leader of the civilian faction of the Sovereignty Council, Abdalla Hamdok, and his wife captive, leading to widespread protests. Prime Minister Hamdok resigned soon after, leaving the protestors feeling betrayed. Hamdok was a symbol of a future of democracy in Sudan, a symbol of a future civilian-led government, so when this symbol backs away from the promises he made to the country, promises of triumph and a promise of retribution and removal of all soldiers who were known for killing protestors. The citizens saw it as him giving up after all these promises he made to them.
The current war in Sudan began on April 15, 2023. The RSF is a paramilitary group that grew out of the Janjaweed militia, which the Sudanese government employed to fight in the ongoing war in Darfur. The Janjaweed committed and continue to commit grave atrocities in Darfur. The source of tension between the two groups is because the RSF had resisted integration into the army, understanding it would lose its power. The RSF is supported by the United Arab Emirates and Russia’s Wagner group because Sudan is one of the highest exporters of gold in the world, and it is currently being used to fund Russia in the war on Ukraine. Hemedti had been trading gold for land in Russia or weapons from the United Arab Emirates. Along with this, the Janjaweed are being used as “border guards,” preventing African “illegal immigrants” from entering Europe. Many foreign countries are benefiting from the current war in Sudan. However Sudan has been ravaged and its citizens are unable to survive under these conditions. Hospital closures, school closures, and lack of access to water, food, shelter, medicine, and safety have made the country barren. Sudan has the highest displacement rate in the world currently, with 8.1 million displaced people and about 13,900 casualties, not including the ongoing Darfurian genocide.
As the world witnesses Sudan's suffering, we must take collective action. Beyond raising awareness, we must focus on African crises which are overshadowed by global events. The plight of Sudan serves as a reminder to prioritize the forgotten challenges that require our attention. Let us now consider the involvement of external actors. The United Arab Emirates, which supports the RSF and worsening Sudan's conflict, must be investigated. A call to action is to boycott products originating in the UAE, promoting responsible consumerism as a form of protest against nations that contribute to the misery of others. Spreading awareness through dialogue and social media is critical. Raising awareness and pushing for international assistance and involvement may help end the suffering in Sudan and other disregarded African countries. Sudan's problem is more than a local matter; it is a worldwide concern that requires our attention, empathy, and action.
Works Cited
Baldo, Suliman. “Sudan's Self-Inflicted Economic Meltdown.” The Enough Project, https://enoughproject.org/wp-content/uploads/SudanEconomicMeltdown_Enough_November2018-web.pdf. Accessed 7 April 2024.
“Several killed in Sudan as protests over rising prices continue.” Al Jazeera, 21 December 2018, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/12/21/several-killed-in-sudan-as-protests-over-rising-prices-continue/. Accessed 7 April 2024.
