9:49 pm - February 24, 2025
The ongoing conflict in Sudan has reached a critical point, with the Sudanese military making significant strides in reclaiming key areas of the capital, Khartoum, from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a powerful paramilitary group. The military’s recent capture of a major bridge connecting the eastern part of Khartoum to the south has been a notable victory, coming just days after they regained control of the capital’s northern section. This marks the latest development in a protracted conflict that has now spanned nearly two years, with the army steadily advancing in recent weeks to wrest back large portions of the capital and its surrounding areas. Despite these gains, the RSF continues to hold strategic positions, including the central market, the presidential palace, and several residential districts in the south and west. The group also maintains control over parts of the central region of Kordofan and vast swathes of the western region of Darfur, where they are currently besieging the city of el-Fashir, the capital of North Darfur. The conflict has taken a dire toll on civilians, with an estimated 11.4 million people displaced since fighting began in April 2023—3 million of whom have fled to neighboring countries as refugees, while over 8 million remain internally displaced.
The humanitarian situation has grown increasingly desperate, particularly in Darfur, where the RSF’s recent attack on the Zamzam displacement camp, near el-Fashir, has exacerbated the suffering of thousands of civilians already grappling with famine. The camp, which shelters many displaced by the conflict, has become a focal point of the RSF’s efforts to consolidate control over Darfur. Residents and medical workers have reported the devastating impact of such attacks, which further destabilize an already fragile region. The scale of the crisis is staggering, with nearly 25 million people in Sudan facing acute hunger, according to United Nations figures. Delivering aid to these populations remains a monumental challenge, as ongoing fighting and shifting frontlines disrupt relief efforts. The international community has called for a ceasefire to facilitate the distribution of food, medicine, and other essential supplies, but such appeals have yet to yield results.
Efforts to broker peace have been extensive but ultimately unsuccessful. Sudan’s regional neighbors, along with global powers, have sponsored numerous talks in cities such as Jeddah, Cairo, Addis Ababa, and Geneva, but the two warring factions remain deeply entrenched in their positions. Both the Sudanese military and the RSF have expressed a willingness to negotiate, yet each has imposed preconditions that the other side deems unacceptable. This stalemate has allowed the conflict to persist, with both sides convinced that a decisive military victory is within reach. Al Jazeera’s Mohamed Vall, reporting from Sudan’s Sennar region, noted that while regional leaders express a desire for peace, their attempts to mediate have been met with failure. The lack of progress has left millions of Sudanese civilians caught in the crossfire, enduring what UN Secretary-General António Guterres has described as a catastrophe of “staggering scale and brutality.”
Speaking at a high-level humanitarian conference in Addis Ababa, Guterres underscored the severity of the crisis, urging the international community to act decisively to halt the flow of arms and ammunition into Sudan. He emphasized that the continued supply of weapons has enabled the conflict’s prolongation, resulting in “tremendous destruction and bloodshed” for civilians. Guterres also called on world leaders to use their influence to push for peace and to significantly increase humanitarian aid, especially with the approaching holy month of Ramadan. His plea comes as Sudan teeters on the brink of further chaos, with the conflict showing no signs of abating. The UN chief’s words highlight the urgent need for a unified response to prevent further suffering and to address the root causes of the conflict.
Despite the dire circumstances, there is a glimmer of hope in the form of renewed international attention and calls for action. The conference in Addis Ababa serves as a reminder that the world has not forgotten Sudan’s plight, even as the crisis drags on. However, the gap between rhetoric and action remains wide, and the people of Sudan continue to pay the highest price for the failure to achieve peace. The military and the RSF appear determined to press their advantage on the battlefield, leaving civilians to bear the brunt of the violence. As the conflict enters its third year, the question remains: will the international community find a way to bring the warring parties to the negotiating table, or will Sudan’s crisis continue to deepen?
For now, the situation on the ground remains tense and volatile. The Sudanese military’s recent gains in Khartoum have shifted the balance of power, but the RSF’s continued control of key locations ensures that the conflict is far from over. Civilians, caught in the middle, endure unimaginable hardship, with millions forced to flee their homes and rely on aid that is increasingly difficult to deliver. The UN’s warnings about the staggering scale of suffering serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for action. As the world watches, Sudan’s future hangs in the balance, and the question of whether peace can be achieved before more lives are lost looms large. For the millions displaced, injured, and grieving, the hope for an end to the bloodshed cannot come soon enough.