United Nations Secretary General António Guterres has warned that Sudan’s civil war is descending into a “humanitarian catastrophe beyond imagination”, as violence intensifies across the country and diplomatic efforts to broker peace show little progress.
Mounting civilian toll
The conflict, now in its nineteenth month, pits the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a powerful paramilitary group once allied with the military. Fierce fighting continues in Khartoum, Darfur, and the Kordofan regions, with reports of widespread civilian casualties, mass displacement, and destruction of infrastructure. According to UN estimates, more than 10 million people have been forced from their homes — the largest internal displacement crisis in the world.
Guterres urges end to violence
Speaking in New York, Guterres called on both factions to “immediately cease hostilities and return to dialogue”. He described the situation as “spiralling out of control” and said that millions are now facing starvation, disease, and lack of access to medical care. “The people of Sudan are not only trapped in war; they are being abandoned by the world,” he said, urging international donors to increase aid and pressure regional powers to push for peace.
Little traction for US-backed ceasefire
The United States, together with Saudi Arabia and the African Union, has been attempting to revive talks aimed at a humanitarian truce, but both sides have so far resisted external pressure. Diplomatic sources say that neither the SAF nor the RSF currently see an advantage in halting fighting, with each seeking to consolidate territorial control before any negotiations.
Regional instability and international concern
The conflict has already spilled over Sudan’s borders, threatening fragile neighbours such as Chad and South Sudan. Refugee camps are overwhelmed, and aid convoys face repeated looting and attacks. International observers warn that Sudan risks becoming a failed state at the heart of the Horn of Africa, with consequences that could destabilise the entire region.
A crisis at the world’s margins
Despite the scale of suffering, global attention has largely shifted elsewhere, leaving humanitarian agencies severely underfunded. The UN says it has received less than a third of the $2.7 billion required to meet urgent needs. “The international community must not turn away,” Guterres said. “Peace in Sudan is not only a moral imperative — it is essential for regional and global stability.”
Newshub Editorial in Africa – 5 November 2025
Recent Comments