In April 2023, a long-simmering conflict within the security apparatus escalated. The military confrontation led to chaos in Africa's third-largest country by area, with a population of approximately 46 million. Sudan is rich in natural resources such as oil and gold, but most people there live in poverty.

The attached map shows the African state of Sudan with its capital Khartoum.

Observers fear that the current conflict in Sudan could escalate into a civil war.

The escalation represents a setback for the democracy movement in the northeast African country. In 2019, a civil society-led movement overthrew the authoritarian long-time ruler Omar al-Bashir. However, the military refused to hand over power to a civilian government and staged a coup in 2021.

According to the UN Refugee Agency, more than one million people have fled to neighboring Chad, Egypt, and South Sudan as a result of the renewed conflict. Nearly five million people are fleeing the violence within the country.

More than 10,000 people have been killed so far. The actual number is believed to be significantly higher. Many areas of the country are difficult to access.

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Where exactly in Sudan is the fighting taking place?

 

The conflict began in April 2023 in the capital Khartoum and quickly spread to other areas.

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The confrontation between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led to the collapse of order in the country.

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There is a shortage of food, cash, and essential goods. Banks, embassies, warehouses, and churches have been looted. According to the UN World Food Programme, approximately 20 million people, almost half the population, do not have enough to eat.