Sudan remains engulfed in a devastating civil war that has plunged the country into one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. Since April 2023, the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), commanded by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, has claimed over 150000 lives and displaced nearly 13 million people.
As the war enters its third year, recent developments highlight the escalating violence, deteriorating infrastructure, and a looming famine that threatens millions.
This exclusive article explores the latest military, humanitarian, and diplomatic updates in Sudan, shedding light on a crisis that demands urgent global attention.
Military Developments: Shifting Battlegrounds and Drone WarfareThe Sudanese Armed Forces have made significant territorial gains in recent months, particularly in and around the capital, Khartoum. In May 2025, the SAF declared Khartoum state “completely free of rebels,” marking a symbolic victory after recapturing key areas like the presidential palace and the Al-Saliha district in Omdurman.
These advances follow a series of successful operations, including the seizure of Bahri, the liberation of El-Obeid in North Kordofan, and the capture of Al-Giteina.
The SAF also reported taking control of a military base in Bir al-Atroun in North Darfur and the Al-Hamadi area in South Kordofan, both former RSF strongholds. These victories have bolstered the army’s position, but the conflict remains far from resolved.Conversely, the RSF has intensified its use of advanced drone warfare, targeting critical infrastructure and military bases.
In May 2025, drone strikes hit Port Sudan, the SAF’s de-facto capital and a vital hub for humanitarian aid. These attacks damaged the naval base, a fuel depot, and the civilian section of Port Sudan’s airport, causing widespread power outages and disrupting essential services. The RSF’s drone campaign also struck Omdurman’s main power stations, leaving the city in a blackout, and targeted El-Obeid’s prison in North Kordofan.
Experts note the growing sophistication of drone warfare in Sudan, with both sides allegedly receiving external support, including Iranian-made drones for the SAF and UAE-supplied technology for the RSF, though the UAE denies these claims.Humanitarian Catastrophe: Famine and DisplacementThe war’s toll on Sudan’s civilian population is catastrophic.
Over 30 million people—more than half the country’s population—require humanitarian assistance.
The United Nations has warned of a “horror beyond imagination,” with famine confirmed in North Darfur’s Zamzam displacement camp in August 2024. Up to 755000 people face catastrophic hunger, particularly in Darfur, where 8.5 million are at emergency levels of food insecurity.
The conflict has decimated agriculture and food distribution networks, with both the SAF and RSF accused of using starvation as a weapon of war by blocking humanitarian aid.Displacement is another grim reality.
Since April 2023, 8.6 million people have been internally displaced, while 3.8 million have fled to neighboring countries like Egypt, Chad, and South Sudan. The International Organization for Migration reports that 406300 people were displaced from Zamzam camp alone since April 2025 due to intensified fighting. Women and children are particularly vulnerable, with over 3 million women and girls at risk of gender-based violence.
The healthcare system has collapsed, with most hospitals non-functional, and cholera outbreaks have surged, with over 2300 cases reported in Khartoum in recent weeks, exacerbated by RSF attacks on water treatment facilities.Allegations of Atrocities and International InvolvementThe conflict has been marred by allegations of severe human rights abuses. In Darfur, the RSF faces accusations of ethnic cleansing and mass sexual violence, with the International Criminal Court’s prosecutor noting an acceleration of “criminality” in the region.
The SAF, meanwhile, has been accused of using chemical weapons in 2024, prompting the United States to impose sanctions on Sudan’s government in May 2025. Sudan’s army denies these allegations, but the U.S. State Department’s findings have heightened international scrutiny.
Foreign involvement continues to fuel the conflict. The SAF has accused the UAE of directly arming the RSF, citing a drone attack on Port Sudan as retaliation for an SAF strike on an Emirati warship in Nyala. Amnesty International has also reported that military vehicles and technology from France and the UAE are being used in the war. Russia, Egypt, and Iran are among other nations implicated in supporting one side or the other, complicating diplomatic efforts. The African Union has rejected external interference, but geopolitical interests, including control over Sudan’s gold mines, continue to drive foreign engagement.Diplomatic Efforts and Infrastructure DevastationDiplomatic initiatives to end the war have largely stalled. A December 2023 summit in Djibouti by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development aimed to broker peace but yielded no significant progress. The UN Security Council has called for ceasefires, particularly during Ramadan, but these have consistently failed due to persistent violations. The appointment of Kamil Idris as Sudan’s prime minister by the SAF-aligned government in 2025 signals an attempt to stabilize governance, but the RSF’s continued assaults undermine these efforts.The war has ravaged Sudan’s infrastructure, with destroyed bridges, looted hospitals, and crippled water and power systems. Reuters reported in May 2025 that weeks-long blackouts and contaminated drinking water have become commonplace, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
Sudan’s economy, once showing promise, has lost decades of development progress, with state revenues down by 80% and inflation soaring.
The World Bank has paused disbursements to government-led projects but approved $182 million in emergency health and safety net programs in December 2024, implemented through UN agencies and NGOs.Looking Ahead: A Bleak OutlookAs Sudan’s civil war enters its third year, the prospects for peace remain dim. The SAF’s recent gains have shifted the military balance, but the RSF’s drone capabilities and external support suggest a prolonged conflict.
The humanitarian crisis, described as the largest in the world, demands urgent international action. The UN’s 2025 humanitarian response plan seeks $4.2 billion to aid 20.9 million people, but funding constraints and access challenges hinder delivery, particularly in conflict zones like Darfur, Kordofan, and Khartoum.The international community faces a critical juncture. Humanitarian concerns must override geopolitical rivalries to prevent further collapse. Sudan’s people, caught in the crossfire of a power struggle between two military factions, deserve a concerted global effort to restore peace, deliver aid, and rebuild a nation on the brink of catastrophe
