Sudan has been experiencing ongoing deadly violence driven by a complex mix of political power struggles, ethnic tensions, and humanitarian crises. The main factors fueling killings include clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a volatile power struggle that intensified after the 2023 military takeover. In many areas, children, women, and civilians have been targeted or caught in the crossfire as both sides deploy airstrikes, artillery, and ground assaults in densely populated neighborhoods. Ethnic and regional militias have also participated in violence, leading to episodes of mass killings, detentions, and abuses that local and international monitoring bodies have described as serious violations of international humanitarian law. Key sub-trends and context:
- Armed conflict between SAF and RSF: The two leading military factions have vie for control of cities, routes, and resources, with periodic escalations that cause large civilian casualties and displacement. This struggle has repeatedly disrupted essential services and humanitarian access, intensifying suffering for noncombatants.
- Targeted violence and abuses: Reports from international bodies and human rights groups indicate killings, extrajudicial executions, arbitrary arrests, sexual and gender-based violence, and other abuses linked to the fighting and militias associated with the conflict parties.
- Darfur and broader regional impact: The violence has particularly severe impact in Darfur, where historical grievances and patterns of militias operating with limited accountability have resurfaced, resembling earlier cycles of mass violence in the region.
- Humanitarian crisis and displacement: Widespread displacement, food insecurity, and restricted aid access compound the danger for civilians, with many communities cut off from essential services and protections.
- International response and accountability: The international community has urged respect for humanitarian law and calls for investigations into abuses, while delivery of aid and protection remains hampered by security concerns.
If you’d like, I can summarize recent verified figures on civilian casualties, displacement, and affected regions from reliable sources, or explain the roles of specific actors (SAF, RSF, local militias) and the humanitarian implications in more depth.
