As Global Refuge advocates on behalf of those seeking safety, we hope to help our supporters better understand the circumstances that require our refugee and other immigrant neighbors to flee.
This week marks the second anniversary of renewed violence in Sudan and the battle over Khartoum. Global Refuge continues to call for the resumption of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program to help bring Sudanese to safety, the provision of critical humanitarian aid to those affected by the crisis, and for the maintenance of Temporary Protected Status for Sudanese families living in the United States.
What is the origin of the conflict in Sudan?
In 2003, conflict in Sudan’s western state of Darfur erupted and captured the world’s attention and horror at the allegations of genocide and crimes against humanity. Twenty years later, Sudan would see the flames of conflict reignited in the country’s capital, Khartoum, metastasize to become the largest and fastest growing displacement crisis in the world.
The crisis in Sudan began as one of governance, rooted in the rule of former president of Sudan, Omar al-Bashir. His tenure was defined by war, and he is currently wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, and faces charges in Sudan related to his seizure of power in 1989.
Protests calling for democracy and a new government grew, culminating in a 2019 coup jointly orchestrated by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary apparatus of the state that grew out of the Janjaweed militia groups that carried out the genocide in Darfur.
The military junta that governed Sudan after al-Bashir's removal came to an agreement with a diverse coalition of civil society groups regarding what Sudan’s democratic transition would look like. However, that vision never materialized amid growing tensions between the SAF and the RSF, which was resisting its integration into the Sudanese army—a step integral to the country’s transition to democracy.
What happened in Sudan in April 2023?
The greatest challenge to Sudan’s democratic transition would come on April 15th, 2023: gunfire and explosions shook Khartoum as the RSF mobilized across the country to attack positions held by the Sudanese army, the culmination of a monthslong power struggle between the groups. Within a week, thousands of foreign nationals evacuated the country while Sudanese nationals sheltered in their homes, fearful of combat and rampant looting, began to run out of food, water, and medicine. The Sudanese population in Khartoum would, until recently, continue to live under the occupation of the RSF in daily fear of looting, mass killings, and sexual violence.
The conflict spread unabated across the country from Khartoum to Darfur, where the RSF committed crimes against humanity and war crimes against the non-Arab populations. Mass killing and systemic gang rape have been used as a weapon of war across South, East, Central, and West Darfur and the RSF has laid siege on the capital of North Darfur state, el-Fasher, killing nearly 1,000 civilians. The SAF, too, has been accused of war crimes.
What have been the effects of the conflict in Sudan?
This devastating conflict has compounded challenges in the humanitarian situation that preceded this war: before 2023, 15.8 million people in Sudan were already in need of humanitarian aid. As of April 2025, nearly 13 million people have been forcibly displaced and 30.4 million people, or 64 percent of the country’s population, are in need of humanitarian assistance. The struggle for power between the leaders of the warring groups has killed an estimated 150,000 people.
As the conflict progressed, Sudan fractured into zones of control, with the SAF maintaining control of northern Sudan and most of the east, while the RSF held western Darfur and Kordofan. The conquests of the warring parties have made civilians subject to human rights violations including sexual violence and ethnic cleansing. Throughout the country, fighting has destroyed civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, and created a widespread crisis of hunger.
Despite the scale of the human impact of the conflict, world leaders have failed to bring about a diplomatic solution. In fact, outside powers such as the United Arab Emirates and Egypt have continued providing weapons to the RSF and SAF, respectively. Early attempts at truces between the two parties were repeatedly violated, dimming hopes of a diplomatic resolution to the crisis.
What does the future hold for the Sudanese people?
Weeks ago, the SAF stunningly regained control of Khartoum’s international airport and the city center after almost two years of war, bringing the government forces increasingly closer to recapturing the entire city. This marks a critical turning point in the conflict, as the RSF was forced to retreat and the divisions in Sudan threaten to fully solidify.
Despite this, the end of the war remains far out of reach. Days ago, the RSF intensified attacks on two camps for internally displaced persons encircling the city of El-Fasher, the last state capital in Darfur held by the SAF. According to the United Nations, more than 300 people have been killed since the recent escalation, including humanitarian personnel. This has triggered further displacement, compounding on preexisting challenges to the camps including famine and near complete interruption of humanitarian assistance delivery due to the battle between the groups over control of Al-Fasher.
As Sudanese attempt to make sense of the past two years of conflict and what the future may hold, durable solutions for displaced Sudanese must be pursued and secured. Global Refuge is committed to developing durable solutions for people seeking safety across the globe. We support humanitarian assistance for crisis response, where such assistance is a matter of life or death, and continue to advocate for policies that would allow Sudanese refugees to live in safety. While conflicts rage on in Ukraine, Gaza, Haiti, and elsewhere, the world cannot afford to turn a blind eye to the suffering in Sudan.
