The ongoing conflict in Sudan is spiraling further out of control, with military and paramilitary forces ramping up their assaults as external powers stoke the flames of violence, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reported on Monday. The war, now 18 months old, threatens not only the Sudanese people but also regional stability, with the potential to destabilize areas from the Sahel to the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea.
In a stark briefing to the UN Security Council, Guterres painted a harrowing picture of life in Sudan, where civilians are caught in a relentless cycle of violence. Reports detail horrific “nightmares” for the population, including rampant killings, “unspeakable atrocities,” and widespread sexual violence. Diseases are spreading rapidly, and over 750,000 people are facing catastrophic food insecurity, particularly in North Darfur, where displacement sites resemble hell on earth.
The secretary-general highlighted “shocking reports” of mass killings and sexual violence that emerged from villages in the east-central Gezira province. Recent attacks by paramilitary fighters resulted in the deaths of over 120 people in just one town, revealing the brutal reality on the ground. These incidents echo a chilling history, as Sudan had previously experienced atrocities of similar magnitude during the Darfur genocide two decades ago.
The war erupted in mid-April 2023, igniting long-simmering tensions between military leaders and their paramilitary counterparts in Khartoum. This conflict has claimed more than 24,000 lives, according to data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data project, and has created the worst displacement crisis globally, with over 11 million people forced from their homes—3 million seeking refuge in neighboring countries.
Guterres urgently called on both warring factions to agree to an immediate cessation of hostilities, stressing their obligation to protect civilians and allow humanitarian aid to reach the millions in desperate need. “I am horrified” by the ongoing attacks against civilians in North Darfur’s capital, El Fasher, he said, adding that the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are particularly culpable, attacking displacement sites where famine conditions have been confirmed.
The situation in Khartoum is equally dire, with civilian casualties mounting due to indiscriminate airstrikes. Guterres condemned these actions and asserted that all those who violate international humanitarian law must face accountability.
This current conflict follows the ousting of long-time dictator Omar al-Bashir, which was catalyzed by a pro-democracy uprising. Although the initial hopes for a democratic transition were short-lived, the aftermath has led to a descent back into violence marked by ethnic killings and mass rapes—atrocities that have drawn international condemnation as potential war crimes and crimes against humanity.
In a foreboding echo of past violence, the International Criminal Court’s prosecutor, Karim Khan, indicated in January that both military factions could be committing war crimes or even genocide, particularly in Darfur. This historical backdrop is troubling; the 2003-2005 Darfur conflict resulted in up to 300,000 deaths and displaced 2.7 million people, leaving scars that have yet to heal.
The international community must take swift and decisive action to address these grave violations and prevent a repeat of past horrors. As Sudan spirals deeper into chaos, the stakes are rising not only for the millions of affected civilians but for the stability of an entire region.
