The African state of Sudan has been the theatre of a civil conflict since the 15th of April 2021. Having the living conditions in the country worsened significantly due to the outbreak of the war, foreign states have decided to intervene in order to facilitate negotiations and save their citizens.
The current civil war that is taking place in Sudan started on the 15th of April 2021. Since its start, it has already caused the death of at least 427 people and injured many innocent civilians. The sides involved in the fight are the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF), linked to the general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) headed by the general Mohammed Dagalo.
Despite being involved in a violent conflict today, the two have not always been enemies. On the contrary, both used to work under the dictator Omar Bashir and, in 2021 organized a coup that overthrew the previous government.
The conflict has broken out, however, due to the different views held by the two with regards to the time needed for the integration of combatants into the army. Durhan believed that all that was needed was 2 years while, Dagalo 10.
The war has a significant importance both for the two enemies and for foreign powers. For the two sides involved in the conflict, the rewards at stake include the centralization of money and power in the hands of the winner. In the Karthum regime, in fact, the person who is in power can decide on state matters and can control the military, which is a significant source of power in the region. For western leaders, democratization of the country is necessary as it allows for increased stability in the area.
Consequences of the conflict
Sudan, the third biggest African country, has long suffered from poverty and violence. Conditions were, in fact, difficult even before the outbreak of the conflict. The interruption of foreign aid missions, however, has worsened the living conditions and security in the country, leaving it in an extremely difficult situation. Facing attacks, such foreign aid agencies as the World Food Programme have decided to halt the distribution of aid, creating numerous difficulties for the inhabitants of the area, whose ability to access crucial resources has been severely limited.
Many other donors have decided to follow the path of the World Food Programme leaving the country in need of food, medicines, and basic means. Moreover, due to the prolonged violence, many have lost their homes and accommodations, being forced to live in danger or to escape the country to avoid being severely injured or killed in the confrontations.
Three-days ceasefire, details and consequences
Numerous states, such as France, Japan, the United States, and the United Kingdom have initiated missions aimed at evacuating the citizens who had expressed the wish to leave the country. In addition to this, a three-days ceasefire has been announced by the American Secretary of State Anthony Blinken starting from the 24th of April 2021.
The decision is aimed mainly at buying time and possibilities to allow for the delivery of humanitarian support, as well as to facilitate the evacuation of those in danger and of foreign diplomatic forces.
The further aim is that of facilitating negotiations between the two parties to promote talks that can lead to the achievement of peaceful agreements and ameliorated conditions in the country. The US, in fact, have decided to intervene as a third-party negotiator, together with regional and international parties to conclude the talks and hopefully implement a permanent cessation of hostilities between the two rivals.
The achievement of the truce period has represented a significant challenge, as leaders have been able to obtain it only after “intense negotiations that lasted over the period of two days”, as stated by Blinken. However, the truce is crucial as it is set to introduce a spiral of hope for the end of the violent conflict in the region.
Despite being involved in a violent conflict today, the two have not always been enemies. On the contrary, both used to work under the dictator Omar Bashir and, in 2021 organized a coup that overthrew the previous government.
