It has been over 20 months since the devastating morning of April 15th 2023 when civilians woke up to the sound of bombs, gunfire and the smell of death in the city of Khartoum, Sudan.
Over these months there have been many accounts from civilians fleeing from their homes, towns and cities to get to safety. Thousands of accounts of displacement, forced marriages and starvation. The war which now can be considered a genocide in Sudan has been dismissed by mainstream media, politicians, as well as the general public.
It took nearly 8 months after war broke out before the general public began taking any notice of the Sudanese plight.
This inaction for so long has caused the Sudanese to feel abandoned in a time when they needed support from their brothers and sisters across the world.
What is happening in Sudan?
For many years Sudan was under the dictatorship of President Omar al-Bashir. However in 2018 he was overthrown by the resistance of the people who wanted a democratic country. You may have come across the iconic image of Alaa Saleh standing amidst a crowd of people with her fist held high. Alaa became one of the prominent voices during this period after the photograph taken by Lana H. Haroun of her went viral.
The SAF under the leadership of Abdel Fattah al-Burhan is the army of Sudan. Al-Burhan came into defacto leadership with his second in command Mohamed Dagalo otherwise known as Hemidti and the leader of the RSF (Rapid Support Forces) after the 30 year dictator Omar Al-Bashir was ousted from Sudan – ending the Bashir regime.
This ousting was after the Sudanese revolution took place in 2018 where protestors due to the increase of inflation, instability of jobs as well as a lack of financing toward schools and healthcare took to the streets. These protests were based on the non-violent theory which centred all sectors of Sudanese society.
After Al-Bashir declared a state of emergency in February 2019, dissolving national and regional governments, he replaced them with military officers. Believing they would work with him. However in April 2019 the military – SAF and RSF formed a coup and strategically ousted Al-Bashir. Claiming they would work towards an election where civilians would be given a democratic voice. On going negotiations between military and civilian groups backed by the UN led to a formation of a transitional government headed by Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok in August 2019. However Hamdok never came to power even though his cabinet was recognised as the leaders of the transitional government by the western powers such as the EU and the USA. In 2022 after his resignation, the SAF and the RSF took over. Al-Burhan became the Chairman whilst Hemidti became the Deputy Chairman.
Internal disagreements between SAF and RSF lead to failed negotiations. In the days leading up to April 15 2023, both groups had begun mobilizing troops in the capital of Khartoum.
International players:
There are many international or global players who have their hands dirty in Sudan. Some backing the RSF, some the SAF, whilst a few have been backing both over the course of this period. I have done a short breakdown below however there are other countries in play that have their fingers in African soil such as United States of America, China, United Kingdom.
SAF
Egypt: Logistical and military aid. They also arrest Sudanese refugees and force deportations to active conflict zones.
Saudi Arabia: Military aid as well as financial aid.
Iran: Interest in the access of the Red Sea
Ukraine: Using their backing of the Wagner Group they have launched attacks on the RSF
Russia: Mercenaries and weapons, their aim to is establish a naval base in Port Sudan.
Israel: Foreign ministry supports SAF
RSF
UAE: Is the main supporter creating misinformation, supplying arms as well importing smuggled Sudanese gold. They also want access to the Red Sea by building a Port.
Russia: Mercenaries and weapons, their aim to is establish a naval base in Port Sudan. Working with smuggled gold they are using it to fund their war against Ukraine.
Israel: Mossad is supporting RAF
Sudan crisis – snapshot from April 2023 to current
It has been well over 500 days since 15th April 2023. Over 10.7 million people have been displaced internally within Sudan and 2.3 million have sought refugee in neighbouring countries. The healthcare system has collapsed and there is little to no way to escape. Khartoum has become a graveyard with dead bodies piled on top of each other in the street. In September 2.5 million are at risk of famine with 25.6 million facing acute hunger. However you may not have heard of this.
The media has not been vocal about the devastation raging Sudan. Why? Sudan is an African country and the media has always encouraged the narrative of dehumanising African lives. By acknowledging this they would be opening up the Pandora’s box of why Africa is in the position it is in today. The narrative of the poor African people in need of Western saviourism allows them to justify slavery and colonial exploitation. The narrative thrown towards the Western public that what is happening in Sudan isn’t a civil war, it is a proxy war backed by international players allowing them to continue the trope that Africans cannot be peaceful unless under Western governance.
What we can do
There are many things we can do aid Sudan. One major act is to boycott as much as you possibly can.
The UAE is a major player due to their funding of the RSF therefore campaigners have asked for the public to stop travelling to the UAE, buying goods and gold from the UAE. Working with grassroots movements and supporting charities.
If you would like to donate whilst showing your support for Sudan you can purchase our Flags for Freedom – Sudan Tote Bag and all profits of each bag will go to the Sudanese American Physicians Association (SAPA).
Resources
Accounts to follow:
@bsonblast @sdn.world @nasalsudan @sudan.updates @tartola0123 @red_maat @sudaneasediaspora @womanofsudan
To read:
Tears of the Desert by Halima Bashir
The Season of Migration to the North by Tayeb Salih
Home is Not a Country by Safia Elhillo
River Spirit by Leila Abouella
A Mouth Full of Salt by Reem Gaffar
Talking about Revolution by Yasmin Abdul-Magied
To Listen:
Sudan in Revolution and War – The Fire These Times Podcast Episode 143
Sudan’s Collective Grief is Never Ending – The Digital Sisterhood Podcast Season 4 Episode 5
To Watch:
Talking About Trees – Documentary on Arts as Resistance
Al-Sit – Sudani Women on opposing ends of the Social Chain
Goodbye Julia – A film set before the secession of South Sudan in 2011
To Donate:
