Sudan is a country in Africa's northeast. It is the third-largest country in Africa and the Arab League in terms of size. The Republic of Sudan gained independence from Anglo-Egyptian joint rule on January 1, 1956. After Sudan gained its independence, a democratic parliamentary system was set up. However, this system was torn down by several military coups led by radicals on the left and right, from the communist regime of the early Nimeiry years to the Islamist regime of Al-Bashir.
Also read: World Geography - Sudan
2023 Crisis in Sudan
The current conflict in Sudan escalated due to the power tussle between the army and the powerful paramilitary force - RSF (Rapid Support Forces). General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has led the army faction. His deputy, General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti, is in charge of the RSF. The tensions started rising from the proposed integration of RSF with the military. However, it is important to note that the RSF and the army were together in ousting dictator Colonel Omar-al- Bashir who remained in power for thirty years. According to Kholood Khair, transitioning toward a democratic government and the December Framework Agreement elevated Hemedti's position equal to Burhan rather than his deputy, creating a rift between al-Burhan and Hemedti (Aljazeera).
On April 8, fierce violence erupted all over the nation, transforming Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, and the neighboring town of Obdurman into battlegrounds. According to reports, fighter jets belonging to the army started bombing RSF's locations. The RSF also claimed to have taken control of the presidential palace, the army chief's residence, the state television station, and airports in Khartoum, Merowe, El Fasher, and West Darfur state. The army refuted those claims. According to the World Health Organisation, the death toll from Sudan's conflict has risen to over 420 as heavily armed groups are fighting in densely populated areas (CBS).
The External Influence
Geopolitically, Sudan lies in a very significant location. It has access to the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa. Sudan can also influence the Oil-rich North African countries. Moreover, the mighty Nile River passes through Sudan, a lifeline for the people of Egypt and Sudan. For long, it remained a hub for terrorist organizations such as Al- Qaeda, hence faced sanctions by the United States and its allies. In 2020, Sudan was dropped from the United States' list of nations that support terrorism. It opened up the flow of financial aid.
Bashir's regime supported the United Arab Emirates and Saudi alliance in their fight against Houthi rebels in Yemen. After the fall of Bashir, the UAE developed good relations with General Hamdan Dagalo of the RSF. Suakin Island in northeastern Sudan provides access to the Red Sea and is crucial to keep an eye on Port Sudan. Turkey has already established a naval dock for civilian and military purposes. Sudan also had a deal with Qatar to develop Suakin Island.
Russia has long recognized the need to establish a presence in the Sudan. As a result, it signed a military cooperation agreement with Sudan in 2019. Moscow also wants to increase its influence in the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa through Sudan (Nada Ahmad).
Being its neighbor Egypt has its concerns. Though Cairo has good ties with the Sudanese army, a dispute exists between Sudan and Egypt over Halayeb Triangle (Carnegie). Moreover, other neighboring countries of Sudan, such as Ethiopia, Chad, and South Sudan, have recently witnessed political upheavals and conflicts.
Rescue and Evacuations
All the countries have started rescuing and evacuating their citizens from Sudan. Jordan is played a significant role in evacuating German, Syrian, Iraqi, and Palestinian citizens. US Military successfully evacuated its employee of the US embassy from Khartoum. However, one US citizen has been killed in the violence (CBS).
What Lies Ahead
The airport, hospitals, and schools in Khartoum have all suffered severe damage due to the present conflict. Moody has warned that the physical and social infrastructure damage would have long-term economic repercussions if this conflict turns into a protracted civil war. The Sudan is primarily dependent on subsistence farming. An estimated 2.7 million kids suffer from severe malnutrition (Borgenproject). In addition, food insecurity may increase as Sudan is vulnerable to desertification and flooding due to climate change. Sudan lost significant oil revenues after South Sudan became an independent nation. If the current crisis escalates further, it may become a humanitarian crisis of an unprecedented scale.
Conclusion
After the dictatorship and economic sanctions ended, Sudan was inching toward democracy and economic development. Sudan has a long history of internal strife, death, destruction, and displacement of people. The current conflict may push Sudan into the dark ages and millions of people into poverty and despair. Chief of the United Nations Antonio Guntress has rightly appealed to the international community that:
We must all do everything within our power to pull Sudan back from the edge of an abyss.