Khartoum: Sudan's ongoing conflict remains at a strategic stalemate, with both sides hoping for a breakthrough via new offensives, weapon supplies, or political alliances, yet neither has gained a decisive upper hand. The real victims of this prolonged conflict are the Sudanese people, who are increasingly facing hunger, displacement, and despair.
According to BBC, the Sudanese Armed Forces triumphantly announced the recapture of central Khartoum in March, utilizing sophisticated drones that the army accuses the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of supplying. The UAE, however, rejects these allegations, despite reports of its support for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) over the 27-month conflict.
The RSF has expanded operations south of Khartoum, where leader Hemedti has allied with Abdel Aziz al-Hilu of the Sudan People's Liberation Army-North, controlling the Nuba Mountains near South Sudan. Their combined forces may attempt to advance towards the Ethiopian border to open new supply routes. Meanwhile, the RSF is besieging North Darfur's capital, el-Fasher, defended by a coalition of former rebel groups, known as the Joint Forces, allied with the army. The ongoing blockades and attacks have induced famine among residents, hitting the displaced camp of Zamzam hardest.
The RSF and allied Arab militias have a grim history of violence, with accusations of genocide against West Darfur's Massalit people. The Zaghawa communities in el-Fasher fear savage reprisals should the Joint Forces fall to the RSF. Last week, RSF forces captured desert garrisons on the Libyan border, allegedly with help from forces loyal to Libyan leader Gen Khalifa Haftar, raising further tensions.
Sudanese civilians, who once successfully overthrew long-time leader Omar al-Bashir through peaceful protests, now find themselves fragmented and polarized. Various factions align with either Burhan or Hemedti, or seek neutrality, but remain divided. Neighborhood committees that spearheaded the civic revolution now focus on humanitarian aid, despite losing funding after the closure of USAID under the Trump administration.
Both the army and RSF view civic activism as a threat, cracking down on aid workers and human rights activists. With no credible peace process in place, efforts by the UN's chief diplomat to Sudan, former Algerian Prime Minister Ramtane Lamamra, have yet to yield results. Burhan holds a diplomatic advantage, recognized by the UN as Sudan's government, despite not controlling the capital entirely. A parallel administration attempt by Hemedti lacks credibility.
The path to peace is seen to run through regional powerhouses like Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, and Cairo. Egypt, in particular, supports Burhan but is wary of his ties to Sudanese Islamists, a legacy of Bashir's 30-year rule. The UAE's support for Hemedti remains a pivotal issue, with no signs of compromise following RSF's losses in Khartoum.
The humanitarian crisis escalates, with more than half of Sudan's 45 million population displaced and nearly a million facing famine. Both sides restrict aid access, and the UN's $4.2 billion appeal remains grossly underfunded. Sudan's plight is overshadowed globally, yet remains a critical issue where multilateral organizations could still play a crucial role.
The Sudanese people's enduring suffering calls for urgent international attention and action, underscoring the need for commitment to human rights and humanitarian aid. The world must not abandon Sudan in its darkest hour.