By John Jessup, CBN News.
After more than three years of bloodshed, Sudan remains fractured by violence, displacement, and severe famine. The civil war has forced millions to flee their homes. Cities lie in ruins. And accusations of genocide and war crimes continue to mount against the warring factions inside what aid organizations and the United Nations characterize as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
During a recent reporting trip to Sudan, CBN News obtained rare access to areas controlled by the Sudanese Armed Forces, offering a firsthand look at the devastation that spans the country.
Khartoum, once known for its bustling streets and one of Africa’s most recognizable skylines, now stands hollowed out by war. Burned-out buildings line nearly-deserted roads. Bullet holes scar homes, businesses and government offices. Entire neighborhoods appear abandoned.
The destruction reflects a complex power struggle involving political, ethnic, religious, and international interests.
“You have an amalgam — a very complex amalgam — of different groups,” said Ralf Krüger, former Africa bureau chief for DPA. “You have mercenaries. You have the Russians, the former Wagner Group. They are in the country because of the gold mines.”
Sudan’s current conflict traces back to the late 2018 and 2019 anti-government protests over the economy under the 30 year rule of Omar al-Bashir. Hopes for democracy were shattered in April 2023 when tensions between military factions erupted into civil war in the capital city.
Today, Sudan is effectively divided. The Sudanese Armed Forces control much of the east, while the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, known as the RSF, have established influence and a parallel government across large swaths of the western region.
The fighting has drawn in foreign interests from countries providing economic, political and, in some cases, military support. That includes Saudi Arabia, Iran, Russia, China, Turkey, Colombia, United Arab Emirates and some of Sudan’s neighbors in East Africa.
International organizations accuse both sides of committing war crimes. The United States and the United Nations have gone further, accusing the RSF of genocide against civilians.