Khartoum: Sudan's ongoing war has reached a strategic stalemate with neither side able to gain a decisive advantage, leaving the Sudanese people as the primary victims of this prolonged conflict.
According to BBC, the Sudanese armed forces announced the recapture of central Khartoum in March with the help of sophisticated drones, which they allege were supplied by the United Arab Emirates (UAE). However, these claims have been denied by the UAE, despite reports of its support for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) during the 27-month-long conflict.
As the RSF expands its operations to the south of Khartoum, its leader, Hemedti, has forged an alliance with Abdel Aziz al-Hilu, the rebel commander of the Sudan People's Liberation Army-North. Together, they aim to push towards the Ethiopian border to open new supply routes. Meanwhile, the RSF has besieged el-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, creating a humanitarian crisis with famine hitting the displaced camp of Zamzam hardest.
The Zaghawa communities in el-Fasher, fearing potential reprisals from the RSF, face mounting pressure as desert garrisons on the border with Libya have fallen to the RSF, allegedly with support from forces loyal to Libyan strongman Gen Khalifa Haftar.
Sudan's civilians, who once overthrew Omar al-Bashir through non-violent protests, are now fragmented and polarized. Civic activism is under threat as both the army and RSF crack down, arresting and torturing aid workers and human rights activists. A credible peace process remains elusive, with the UN's attempts to broker peace stalling.
Diplomats concede that resolving Sudan's conflict requires an Arab-led solution, with Egypt's President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi supporting Burhan but urging him to distance himself from Islamist factions. The UAE's role remains contentious, especially after the RSF's recent drone deployments.
Sudan's humanitarian crisis continues to escalate, with over half of the population displaced and nearly a million facing famine. Aid agencies struggle to access the starving, and the UN's funding appeal has been largely unmet. As the world turns its attention elsewhere, Sudan's plight calls for urgent international intervention to prevent further catastrophe. The suffering of the Sudanese people demands a measure of mercy and decisive action from global and regional stakeholders.