Sudan’s civil war, which began in April 2023, has triggered one of the sharpest economic and humanitarian breakdowns seen globally in recent years. A political-military power struggle has not only fractured the state but also dismantled markets, livelihoods, and food systems, pushing the country into famine for the first time.
From Elite Rivalry to Nationwide Conflict
The war erupted on April 15, 2023, between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti. Ironically, the two forces had earlier acted in tandem — first in removing President Omar al-Bashir in 2019 and later in orchestrating the 2021 coup that derailed Sudan’s fragile democratic transition. The immediate trigger for violence was a dispute over plans to integrate the RSF into the regular army. Behind this, however, lay deeper anxieties about control over power, patronage networks, and economic assets. As negotiations collapsed, rivalry turned into open warfare, rapidly engulfing the country.
Economic Freefall Amid War
Sudan’s economy was already under strain due to years of sanctions, inflation, and weak institutions. The civil war accelerated this decline dramatically. In 2023–24, GDP contracted by around 29%, marking the steepest economic collapse in Sudan’s recent history. Productive activity stalled as fighting disrupted agriculture, trade routes, and oil-linked infrastructure. State revenues shrank, formal employment collapsed, and the economy increasingly shifted towards informal and survival-based transactions, typical of prolonged conflict zones.
Territorial Division and Parallel Power Structures
The conflict has split Sudan into competing zones of control. The SAF dominates central and eastern Sudan, including Port Sudan and parts of Khartoum, while the RSF holds most of Darfur and large swathes of Kordofan. Recent fighting in Kordofan — a strategically important, oil-rich region — reflects the struggle to secure economic lifelines. As the RSF consolidates control in western Sudan, analysts argue it is laying the groundwork for a parallel administrative system, while the SAF focuses on securing corridors linking the centre to the west. This fragmentation has further weakened national governance.
El Fasher and the Escalation of Violence
A decisive shift in the war came with the fall of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, after an 18-month siege. It was the last major SAF-held city in the region. The siege involved encirclement, movement restrictions, and severe violence against civilians. Conflict data indicate hundreds of incidents targeting civilians in and around El Fasher since 2023, with a sharp escalation in 2025. The city’s fall consolidated RSF dominance in Darfur and intensified fears of prolonged instability and mass atrocities in the region.
Humanitarian Breakdown and Displacement
The human toll of the war has been immense. More than 50,000 deaths have been reported, though actual numbers may be higher. By September 2025, at least 9.8 million people had been displaced from their homes, making Sudan the world’s largest and fastest-growing displacement crisis. Urban centres, host communities, and refugee camps are under extreme pressure, while humanitarian access remains constrained by insecurity and political obstacles.
Food Prices, Market Collapse, and Famine
War-induced disruptions have shattered food markets. In Kadugli, the capital of South Kordofan, sorghum prices — stable for nearly two decades — have risen more than tenfold since the conflict intensified. In El Fasher, the collapse has been even starker, with the price of millet reaching levels entirely beyond civilian purchasing power. By September 2025, Sudan officially entered famine conditions. The share of the population with minimal food security has fallen sharply since 2022, while crisis-level food insecurity has more than doubled. Conflict, displacement, siege tactics, and market fragmentation have turned hunger into a structural feature of the war.
What to Note for Prelims?
- Start of Sudan civil war: April 15, 2023.
- Main actors: SAF (Abdel Fattah al-Burhan) and RSF (Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo).
- GDP contraction of about 29% in 2023–24.
- Fall of El Fasher and RSF dominance in Darfur.
- Sudan entering famine conditions in 2025.
What to Note for Mains?
- How military power struggles undermine state capacity and economic stability.
- Impact of civil war on GDP, markets, and food security.
- Territorial fragmentation and risks of parallel administrations.
- Humanitarian consequences of siege warfare and displacement.
- Broader regional implications of prolonged instability in the Horn of Africa.
