Persistent Conflict in Sudan: Ethnic Divides, Political Power Struggles, and Humanitarian Crises Since Independence"

 Persistent Conflict in Sudan: Ethnic Divides, Political Power Struggles, and Humanitarian Crises Since Independence"

 

This article outlines Sudan’s long history of conflict. influenced by its diverse ethnic, linguistic, and religious makeup and its rich natural resources. Since gaining independence from the United Kingdom in 1956, Sudan has been mired in conflicts stemming from political, ethnic, and economic divisions, particularly the domination of the northern elites over the marginalized peripheries, fuelling long-standing grievances.

The country's conflicts have evolved over time. with significant developments since 1989. Sudan has experienced various types of violence, including inter-state, intrastate, non-state, and one-sided violence, as defined by the Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP). By 2023, the situation worsened significantly, with over 7,500 fatalities reported due to intense fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The violence, that began in April 2023, was rooted in political power struggles between Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, leader of SAF, and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), leader of RSF, over military integration.

The conflict has spread beyond Khartoum. with notable violence in Darfur, where ethnic divisions have escalated. The RSF and its allied Arab militias have been accused of widespread human rights abuses, including summary executions, rape, and ethnic cleansing, particularly targeting non-Arab groups like the Masalit.

Non-state conflicts also remain prevalent. especially among various ethnic communities across Sudan. Tribal clashes over land and resources, such as the conflict between the Beni Halba Baggara and Salamat Baggara in South Darfur, have resulted in hundreds of deaths.

Sudan’s conflicts are compounded by a deep history of marginalization of peripheral regions. where economic and political power is centralized in Khartoum, primarily controlled by elites from the northern regions. This imbalance has caused long-standing grievances, contributing to continuous civil unrest, rebellion, and state-based conflicts.

Sudan’s internal conflicts have also spilled over into neighboring countries. as seen in the government's support for rebel factions in South Sudan and involvement in Yemen's civil war. The RSF, once derived from the infamous Janjaweed militia, has been implicated in continued human rights abuses, making the situation in Sudan one of the most violent and unstable in the region.

 

References

Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP). "Sudan Conflict Overview." UCDP Database. Accessed 2023.

International Crisis Group. Sudan’s Deep State: How Violence and Elite Power Struggles Shape the Country. International Crisis Group, 2023.

African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS). Reports on Human Rights Abuses in Sudan and Darfur. ACJPS, 2023.

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). "Humanitarian Update on Sudan and South Sudan." OCHA, 2023.

Deng, Francis Mading. War of Visions: Conflict of Identities in the Sudan. Brookings Institution Press, 2011.

Flint, Julie, and Alex de Waal. Darfur: A New History of a Long War. Zed Books, 2008.

 

 

Author: H.W.S.Alkry-Keala

Title: Persistent Conflict in Sudan: Ethnic Divides, Political Power Struggles, and Humanitarian Crises Since Independence

Date: September 2024