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Three years after war erupted in Sudan, the country remains mired in one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, with no end in sight. The conflict, which began in April 2023 as a power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions, according to multiple reports.

Coverage Comparison

Coverage of the anniversary varies in emphasis. Al Jazeera focuses on the humanitarian toll and human rights abuses, particularly detailing alleged atrocities in RSF detention centers in el-Fasher. AllAfrica highlights the military stalemate, noting SAF's recapture of Khartoum while RSF holds Darfur. RFI underscores the shifting public sentiment in favor of the army, even as analysts warn of a deeply entrenched conflict. All sources agree on the conflict's devastating impact and the absence of a political resolution.

Key Claims

All sources report that the war began on April 15, 2023, following a power struggle between SAF chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti. The SAF has recaptured large parts of Khartoum and areas in central and eastern Sudan, while the RSF has consolidated control over most of Darfur after capturing El Fasher in October 2025, according to AllAfrica and RFI.

The humanitarian toll is staggering: at least 150,000 lives lost, most of them civilians, as reported by AllAfrica. Over 14 million people have been displaced, including approximately 4.4 million refugees and asylum seekers in neighboring countries, according to UNHCR figures cited by Al Jazeera.

Al Jazeera reports that the RSF has detained thousands of people in poor conditions in el-Fasher, with the Sudan Doctors Network alleging severe violations, including killings during torture and ethnically motivated killings. The detention centers have also faced a cholera outbreak due to poor conditions. Additionally, the RSF has been accused of using sexual violence as a weapon of war; one investigation found RSF fighters were perpetrators in 87 percent of verified incidents, as carried by RFI.

Perspectives

The war's trajectory has shifted: the army's recapture of Khartoum has led some Sudanese to cautiously back the military, which they once opposed, according to RFI's interviews. However, analysts stress that the conflict remains entrenched, with a political resolution far off. The international community has been accused of neglect, while the United Arab Emirates faces allegations of supporting the RSF, a claim it denies, though this is not yet independently confirmed.