Sudan war sparks world's biggest hunger crisis

The civil war in Sudan erupted in April 2023 between rival factions under the control of Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and his former deputy, General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (often referred to as “Hemeti”), who leads the infamous paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). [1] [2]

Contents

WFP Executive Director issues warning Ongoing violence impacting neighbouring Chad Desperate conditions for displaced families Humanitarian response on the brink Analysis Also read

Almost one year since, the conflict has given birth to a disastrous toll, claiming tens of thousands of lives, destroying vital infrastructure, and plunging Sudan’s economy into turmoil.

Mass displacement resulting from the war has exacerbated the already staggering humanitarian crisis, with over eight million people displaced from their homes. [1]

WFP Executive Director issues warning

Wrapping up a visit to South Sudan on 6 March, World Food Programme (WFP) Executive Director Cindy McCain emphasised the gravity of the situation:

“Millions of lives and the peace and stability of an entire region are at stake.” [1]

McCain went on to raise serious concerns about the plight of Sudanese civilians who have simply been “forgotten” by the international community. [1]

Likewise, a February 2024 report issued by the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) argued,

“Ten months after war erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on 15 April 2023, Sudan is facing one of the fastest unfolding crises globally, with unprecedented needs emerging in such a short period.” [3]

The OCHA further stated,

“About 25 million people — of whom over 14 million are children — need humanitarian assistance and support.

“More than 8 million people — about 15 per cent of the total population of the country — have fled their homes since the conflict started.” [3]

Ongoing violence impacting neighbouring Chad

Despite eleven months of fighting, there has been no respite in sight for the brutal war devastating Sudan.

The WFP has reported that aid workers are unable to reach 90 per cent of those facing emergency levels of hunger due to the conflict. [4]

It has gone so far as to calculate the risk to the region as becoming,

“…the world’s largest hunger crisis.” [4]

In addition, Human Rights Watch (HRW), in its World Report looking at the events of 2023, has recounted the continued destruction that is spilling over into Sudan’s western neighbour, Chad. [5]

“Since April, over 300,000 people have fled to Chad, many from West Darfur.

“As of late July, the UN was recording a significant drop in the number of displaced people still in West Darfur, ‘reportedly attributed to an increase in the level of internally displaced people (IDPs) who have crossed into Chad’.

“Fighting between the SAF and RSF also took place in other urban areas of Darfur.

“In Nyala, the capital of South Darfur, renewed clashes in August left at least 50 civilians dead and forced 50,000 to flee. On September 13, an SAF airstrike in the city killed at least 40 civilians.

“At the time of writing, intense fighting was also reported in El Fashir, the capital of North Darfur, with an increasing risk to civilian lives.” [5] [6]

Desperate conditions for displaced families

Transit camps in South Sudan — already housing nearly 600,000 refugees fleeing from Sudan and continuing to receive around 1,500 further displaced persons daily — remain overwhelmed. [7]

And according to the WFP, one in five children arriving at these camps is malnourished. [1]

At the same time, it is shocking to learn that only five per cent of Sudan’s population can afford a single satisfactory meal a day. [1]

Alex de Waal, the Executive Director of the World Peace Foundation at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and an expert on famine, told the broadcaster Al Jazeera,

“Even if [the hunger crisis stays level], hundreds of thousands of children will die by next year… That’s what a year-long [food] emergency for millions of people will cause.” [8]

Humanitarian response on the brink

Both the RSF and SAF have been accused of indiscriminate attacks on civilians and obstructing aid deliveries.

The WFP has warned repeatedly that the humanitarian response is teetering on the brink of collapse and is urgently calling for a ceasefire to prevent further tragedy. [1]

While there is a glimmer of hope with South Sudan’s government agreeing to receive humanitarian aid via Chad and Sudan, lasting peace is the only solution to avert an unprecedented hunger crisis. [1]

In the face of mounting suffering and despair, we continue to monitor Sudan as our brothers and sisters remain on the verge of a humanitarian catastrophe, with the fate of millions hanging in the balance.

May Allah (subḥānahu wa ta’āla) grant ease to all of the Muslims in Sudan, South Sudan, and the neighbouring countries in the region, and across the world.

Analysis

ANALYSIS

Fadlur Rahman

Imam, Northwich Muslim Cultural Centre

A little background

Since independence from Egypt and the United Kingdom in 1956, Sudan has struggled with dictatorship and internal conflict.

As we have seen over the past year, control over the country is split between two rival commanders — Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.

Here, it is important to understand that Sudan affects Middle Eastern politics as they are both regions with predominantly Arabic speakers, akin to other actors in this conflict such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Numerous attempts and successful overthrows of government

Sudan has witnessed 16 failed and successful coup attempts since its independence.

Having come to power through a military coup himself in 1989, former President Omar al-Bashir rather ironically needed a paramilitary force in order to reduce the risk of a military coup taking him out.

With this critical move by President al-Bashir, it shifted executive power away from a regular military and into his circle, thereby having a secondary impact of enabling a buffer of protection against his dictatorship.

As a result of the above, both the SAF and the RSF have an inability to overpower one other.

In essence, Sudan has had two sizable armed forces fulfilling different functions to counterbalance each other, which has led the country into chaos.

The SAF is estimated to have about 200,000 active personnel compared with the RSF, where estimates range from 70-150,000.

Arab states seeking influence amid devastation?

Egypt — directly North of Sudan and South Sudan — is in alignment with al-Burhan, whose power base is in the North.

Indeed, al-Burhan helps manage the River Nile conflict with Ethiopia and has control over Port Sudan.

Meanwhile, the UAE aligns towards Hemeti, who is from Western Sudan and controls the land’s gold mines. Notably, the proceeds of these operations are in Emirati banks.

Russia and the United States are even worse

Looking to the West, as expected by the US and its obsession with enforcing its version of democracy upon the world, it has called for a 'democratic transition' and for both factions to be sanctioned.

On the other hand, Russian President Vladimir Putin's interventions in Libya and Syria have shown that even small military disturbances can upset the United States and its allies. So it is likely that a strong Russian presence in Sudan would give Putin more influence over Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.

And make no mistake, Russia is already politically and militarily supporting both sides. The Russian military engages with al-Burhan, while the Wagner Group is helping Hemeti. This age-old approach of supporting both sides is placing Russia in a very strong position.

Muslim lands being used as places of exploitation

The reality is that, once again, many Muslim lands have become a theatre for ambitions by countries that do not have the interests of the people at heart.

In fact, the people of Sudan and its resources have become pawns in the hands of tyrants, generals, and external powers.

And beliefs that contradict Islam, such as fighting due to ethnicity and primitive ideas including tribalism, have created horrendous problems in Sudan.

In a report narrated by Jubayr ibn Mut’im, the Prophet ﷺ said,

'He is not one of us who calls to tribalism.

'He is not one of us who fights for the sake of tribalism.

'He is not one of us who dies following the way of tribalism.'

Indeed, the Prophet ﷺ spoke the truth.