As conflicts intensify in Sudan and South Sudan, fleeing civilians are caught within closed borders Today World News

To its south, South Sudan, the world’s newest country, is again on the brink of civil war. The fragile peace agreement reached in 2018 is now broken as a renewed conflict in Jonglei State has displaced over 2,80,000 people.

In Sudan, the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has resulted in an estimated 150,000 to 400,000 deaths, and now it has caused famine and ethnic violence in Darfur. Together, the conflicts in Sudan and South Sudan have now become a regional emergency marked by mass killings, fragmentation of territory, and international complicity.

War in Sudan

At its core, the Sudanese conflict is a military coup that toppled a transitional civilian government in 2021, pitting two generals against each other in a zero-sum power struggle. General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan heads the SAF and is backed by Egypt and Iran. General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti, heads the RSF and is backed by the United Arab Emirates and has roots in the Janjaweed militias in Darfur.

The two generals were once allies and together instrumental in the 2021 coup against Sudan’s fragile democratic transition process following the overthrow of President Omar al-Bashir. However, they disagreed over the integration of their forces and who would eventually control Sudan, resulting in a war breaking out between them in April 2023.

While Sudan’s is described as a civil war, the term does not capture an important truth: civilians are merely collateral damage in the war involving armies and paramilitaries competing for power and control of Sudan.

On the ground, this long war has reshaped Sudan’s internal map.

The SAF controls much of the north and east, including Port Sudan, which has now become the administrative capital for the current government. Meanwhile, the RSF holds much of the west, especially Darfur, and has been expanding its control in much of Kordofan.

Khartoum, the capital city, has also been heavily contested. In early 2025, the SAF recaptured much of Khartoum and the city of Omdurman, including key infrastructure such as an oil refinery. However, this has not yet resulted in a significant shift in balance of power.

Sudan now appears to be a de facto divided country, with competing governments controlling different territories and each having their own networks, resources and external backers.

What is happening in Darfur?

The worst aspect of this conflict is taking place in Darfur. Thousands of people have fled the state in the hopes of accessing humanitarian aid and finding safety. This region, where mass atrocities were committed in the early 2000s, is back in the spotlight for massive ethnic clashes.

The RSF, widely considered the successor of the Janjaweed militia, is responsible for attacks on non-Arab tribes such as the Masalit, Fur, and Zaghawa. In January this year, the U.S. State Department declared that the RSF and their Arab allies commit genocide against non-Arab tribes such as the Masalit, Fur, and Zaghawa, systematically slaying men, boys and infants, and subjecting women to rape and mass enslavement. Their main aim is to cleanse the area for total Arab control.

The capture of El Fasher, the capital city of North Darfur, in October 2025 was a significant development in the Darfur conflict, where after an 18-month siege, the RSF entered the city. The United Nations described the scene as a “horror movie” with over 6,000 lives lost. These acts divide Sudan not just militarily, but mainly ethnically, hence placing Darfur once again at the epicentre of global concern.

Kordofan crisis

As of March 2026, the conflict is concentrated mainly in the Kordofan region, an area connecting the west and the centre of Sudan.

The RSF is trying to secure the route by attacking towns surrounding the strategic city of El-Obeid. The city is the key to connecting the region of Darfur to the rest of the country. Securing the route would enable the RSF to consolidate the ground it has gained.

On the other hand, the SAF is trying to hold strategic positions, raising the likelihood of intensifying conflict in the region. Hence, civilians in this region are facing the threat of new waves of displacement and disruption of food supply chain.

Humanitarian crisis

The humanitarian crisis in Sudan has reached a critical threshold. They are currently facing the largest hunger crisis in the world, in addition to intense famine, with the condition rapidly deteriorating in Darfur and other conflict-ridden regions.

In addition, the healthcare system in this region is barely functioning with hospitals destroyed or abandoned and aid blocked. According to reports from the World Health Organization (WHO), there have been repeated outbreaks of cholera, measles and hepatitis virus. With the conflicts intensifying, there has been a massive surge in injuries and untreated chronic illness in this country. For most citizens, even basic healthcare is out of reach.

Moreover, Sudan has witnessed an extreme displacement crisis, both internally and across borders, as a result of this war. According to UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), since the beginning of the conflict in April 2023, more than 12 million people have been displaced, and over 4 million, mostly women and children, have been displaced to neighbouring countries. While a few neighbouring countries have welcomed Sudanese refugees, most of them lack the humanitarian aid and support that they require without external support. At the same time, aid from the U.S. has also steadily deteriorated, further deepening the displacement crisis.

Crisis in South Sudan

While Sudan is grappling with its own conflict, South Sudan is moving into a new stage of turmoil. The most intense South Sudan conflict seems to be surrounding the town of Akobo, which lies close to the Ethiopian border. Fighting between President Salva Kiir’s government and the opposition forces threatens to push South Sudan to the brink of another round of civil war.

Earlier this month, the government forces issued a mass evacuation order for Akobo, including civilians, humanitarian aid workers, and UN staff, in preparation for a military operation against the opposition forces in the region. The order led to a mass exodus of people from Akobo. Thousands of people were forced to flee, including many who headed to Ethiopia. The town had been a haven for tens of thousands of internally displaced people who had been forced to flee an earlier fighting in Jonglei State.

The order to evacuate posed a difficult choice for the people in the area, who were forced to choose between fleeing without protection or staying in a war zone.

What is increasingly clear is that the crises in Sudan and South Sudan are no longer independent of each other. Conflict in Sudan is resulting in refugees crossing borders, and conflict in South Sudan is resulting in new patterns of refugee movements.

The situation is further deteriorating in the region, because borders are being closed off due to attacks from Chad, while Egypt is increasing the deportation of Sudanese asylum-seekers. This is limiting safe havens for civilians seeking refuge.

What now?

Despite several rounds of talks between all parties involved, there seems to be no immediate breakthrough. Talks including external actors aimed at ceasefire have proved inefficient. On the contrary, foreign interventions are aiding in sustaining the conflict by strengthening both parties militarily. The RSF’s intention to establish a new government suggests a move towards territorial gains rather than compromise, while on the other hand the SAF is determined to make further territorial gains as well.

The war in Sudan seems to be escalating with new frontlines emerging.

The war in South Sudan seems to be escalating too, as political tensions spill over into armed conflict. Civilians face a dead-end with escalating conflicts, closed-off borders and disappearing humanitarian aid.