What should be done about Sudan?
By Youssef Hamad
After nearly four months since the outbreak of war in Khartoum, between army leaders and the Rapid Support Forces, the humanitarian situation has worsened, and the economic conditions across the country have continued to deteriorate.
Originally, the war broke out in mid-April due to power struggles between the leaders of the two forces. The risks are exacerbated by the involvement of various countries and entities with influence over the two parties.
From a humanitarian perspective, the ongoing war threatens to cause famine due to disruptions in starting the agricultural season in vital projects and agricultural areas, such as the Gezira Project in the central part of the country, as well as in Kordofan and the major regions of Darfur in the west.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warns that the most affected states are those suffering active conflict, including Khartoum, South Kordofan, West Kordofan, Central Darfur, East Darfur, South Darfur, and West Darfur, where over half the population faces acute hunger.
The UN-affiliated organization stated on Wednesday that more than 20.3 million people, representing over 42% of the countrys population, are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity, with the number of people facing severe food insecurity doubling compared to the previous year.
Reports indicate limited availability of seeds, agricultural irrigation water, and farming inputs, with limited funding for the agricultural season for tens of thousands of subsistence farmers.
In the capital Khartoum, which has witnessed significant migration and destruction of factories and infrastructure due to the war, very few UN relief agencies are operational. Local social relations, civil society, and resistance committees are more active but with limited capacity to mitigate what can be mitigated.
This deterioration is accompanied by the governments failure to pay salaries and incentives to employees since the outbreak of the conflict.
The chaotic conflict is characterized by complete disdain and almost targeting of the infrastructure in Khartoum. It appears as if this conflict is entirely aimed at harming civilians, as homes and possessions are looted, residents killed, and women raped, leading to the largest displacement from the capital in modern history, in addition to the displacement from Darfur and other regions in Kordofan.
The mediation efforts held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, since last May have failed to put an end to the fighting, except for some fragile truces while the clashes continue in Darfur and Kordofan.
Given this, the threat of the conflicts impact spilling over beyond Sudan remains looming, jeopardizing regional stability as a whole.
Media reports regarding the coup in Niger, to the west of Sudans borders, provide an apt example of the widespread impact expected.
What further enhances the conflicts spread is the discussion about potential risks to two vital water passages for the region, namely the Nile River and the Red Sea in eastern Sudan.
These risks can destabilize the entire continent, from Egypt and Saudi Arabia, both connected to the river and the sea, to other countries sharing open borders with Sudan.
With Sudanese people reaffirming their rejection of war or any outcomes that result in victory for one of the parties, it seems crucial to strengthen the role of political forces expressing the peoples desires, especially political parties, trade unions, and resistance committees. With their involvement, democratic transformation will return, and solutions will begin to emerge.
