After decades of war, Sudan continues to analyze itself from within. Within is where the issue lives. Waring factions such as the Rapid Support Forces(RSF) and the Sudan Peoples Liberation Army(SPLA) have both contributed to Sudan’s destruction in recent times. Before going down that road, let’s take a quick look at how we got here. 

British/Egyptian colonialism took hold of Sudan from 1899 to 1956. The British saw it vital to push Christianity in the south, to pin southern Christians against northern Muslims. This divide was furthered by economic warfare. Oil from the poorer south is siphoned to the wealthy north to keep an economic power imbalance. The impending results are a faulty supply chain and hunger. On January 1st, 1956, Sudan gained its independence from Britain and Egypt. That may seem like the end, but it was just the beginning.

In 2019, Abdel Fattah al Burhan, the current head of the Sudanese army challenged a transitional civilian government with his archfoe, Hemedti, head of the RSF(Rapid Support Forces). As the old saying goes, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. After the overthrow of former president Omar al-Bashir, Abdel and Hemedti resumed warring with each other. President Bashir invited the RSF to the capital of Khartoum because he didn’t trust the government forces, that flaw would cost him, and Sudan, everything.

Currently, the RSF is in control of the Chad border. Nothing comes in without RSF approval, which is one of the main concerns in terms of getting aid to desperate civilians. Selective food distribution has been used as a weapon by the RSF, which may result in hundreds of thousands, if not millions of senseless deaths. Also, agriculture in Sudan is weak due to drought. Farmers have very few safe places to sell their crops, making the situation even more dire. Consistent massacres keep Sudanese civilians on the run and in refugee camps. Also, an illegal gold trade pays for weapons and ammunition. Lastly, 80% of all hospitals in Sudan are either destroyed or abandoned, which cripples their healthcare system. Let’s talk about a realistic solution.

Realistically, Sudan will need to be broken down into smaller, more homogeneous societies. National unification as a goal isn’t feasible at this time in history. Dunbar’s number is a philosophy that states that the larger a group gets, homogeny will lessen. Common customs and goals unite humans. Unfortunately, Sudan is far from commonality. I ask you to pray. Pray for Sudan, pray for their lives, pray for their souls. Thank you for reading, I love you. 

Image Credit

AP Photo/Mackenzie Knowles-Coursin

Sources

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“How the War in Sudan Could Exacerbate Impacts of the Climate Crisis in the Horn of Africa.” Tufts Now, 2023.

“Smuggled Gold Fuels War in Sudan, U.N. Says.” https://adf-magazine.com/, February 13th, 2024,https://adf-magazine.com/2024/02/smuggled-gold-fuels-war-in-sudan-u-n-says/.(Gold)

Stephenson, Heather. “What’s Behind the Fighting in Sudan.”https://now.tufts.edu/,https://now.tufts.edu/2023/05/15/whats-behind-fighting-sudan. 15th May 2023.

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Thomas, Trisha. “UN warns some 25 million Sudanese risk famine without more donations.” AP News, 2024.

“UN warns some 25 million Sudanese risk famine without more donations.”www.concernworldwideusa.org, 2022.