Guest writer, and President of KCL Ecology Society, Ved Shivakumar urges international attention on the current situation in Darfur and the wider conflict in Sudan.
This article was first published in print on 16 September 2024.
As Kofi Annan, the former Secretary-General of the United Nations, once stated, “The continued spectacle of men, women, and children being driven from their homes by murder, rape, and the burning of villages makes a mockery of our claim as an international community to shield people from the worst abuses.” Annan’s speech in the early 2000s described the genocide against the people of Darfur in Western Sudan. His words still resonate today.
Between 2003 and 2005, the Sudanese government and its allied militias perpetrated the Darfur Genocide, resulting in approximately 200,000 deaths and 2 million displaced people. The region continues to struggle with the aftermath of these atrocities. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, remarked earlier this year that “history is repeating itself in Darfur in the worst possible way.”
Since the recent war began on 15 April 2023, over 10 million people have been displaced. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by Gen. Mohamed Hamdan ‘Hemedti’ Dagalo and backed by foreign powers, have attacked medical clinics, burned down villages, destroyed schools and committed mass violence against the people of Darfur. Nearly 25 million people need humanitarian assistance, making Sudan the site of the world’s largest hunger crisis in 2024.
As Mathilde Vu, Advocacy Manager for the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) in Sudan, stated, “When it’s not bullets, it’s hunger that kills.” This chilling observation underscores the dire conditions faced by millions of Sudanese. Prominent experts, including U.S. academic Eric Reeves and the Raoul Wallenberg Centre, have described the RSF’s actions against the Masalit tribe as a genocide.
The genocide taking place in Darfur demonstrates two aspects of the Sudanese conflict that need to be emphasised. First, the atrocity faced by the people in Darfur, and second, the world’s largest hunger crisis. The scale of brutality is staggering and millions are affected by it.
The ongoing assault on the El Fasher region further illustrates the RSF’s intent to destroy an ethnic group driven by power and political motives. The international community must confront this horrific reality and recognise the gravity of the situation in Darfur.
The atrocities being committed are not mere statistics; they represent lives lost, families torn apart and obliterated communities. This crisis constitutes one of the largest humanitarian catastrophes of the 21st century. And yet it receives little to no attention in mainstream media. We must amplify awareness and demand action to stop this ongoing genocide.
April 2024: Understanding the Causes of the Sudan Crisis
It is extremely complex to ascertain the causes of the ongoing genocide faced by the Darfurian people, a conflict that began in the late 1990s. Numerous causes have led to the current humanitarian crisis beginning in April 2023 and the massive violence committed against the Darfur people.
The conflict erupted from a power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary RSF, led by Hemedti. Their power struggles intensified after the military coup in October 2021, which dissolved the transitional civilian government established after the ousting of long-time President Omar al-Bashir in 2019.
This power struggle reached a violent tipping point on 15 April 2023, leading to widespread fighting primarily in Khartoum and Darfur. The escalation in violence has severely impacted Darfur, where ethnic tensions have been historically exploited. The RSF, dominated by Arab groups, evolved from the Janjaweed militias accused of committing atrocities during the Darfur genocide in the early 2000s. It has been implicated in renewed acts of ethnic cleansing against non-Arab communities.
The RSF’s actions are driven by a combination of historical grievances, political ambitions and ethnic targeting, aiming to complete the ethnic cleansing initiated two decades ago. Under Hemedti’s leadership, the RSF seeks to consolidate power amid Sudan’s ongoing civil war and eliminate potential opposition by targeting ethnic groups such as the Masalit, Fur, and Zaghawa.
Their campaign involves the systematic destruction of non-Arab neighbourhoods, the widespread promotion of ethnic slurs and explicit threats. Survivors recount RSF members ethnically targeting and using slurs against the Masalit people at checkpoints on the road, for instance, where they were told “The Massalit will not come home”, further bolstering claims of genocidal intent.
Competition for scarce resources, such as land and water, has also been manipulated by political leaders to incite violence, leading to cycles of conflict and retribution. The RSF’s desire for territorial control causes the group to seize strategic areas and resources, loot and destroy infrastructure to destabilise non-Arab communities and prevent their return once displaced, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Darfur.
International Community’s Role
The humanitarian crisis in Sudan, particularly the silent genocide in Darfur, has been significantly influenced by the international community, with various countries supporting conflicting factions. According to the United Nations (UN), the RSF and SAF have allegedly received backing from several Middle Eastern nations, like Iran and Egypt.
Despite denying involvement, these nations allegedly provided military assistance and resources, enabling the RSF and SAF to carry out their violent campaigns. Their reasoning ranges from Sudan’s strategic interests, such as access to vast resources, military supplies and political endorsements, to broader geopolitical considerations.
This dual support for both factions has resulted in a protracted conflict, with civilians caught in the crossfire. This alleged proxy support has hindered any international coordinated response or military intervention to stop the ongoing genocide, as there is a fear of a wider war and a reluctance among global powers to prioritise this crisis over others they consider more pressing.
The UN and the World Food Programme (WFP) have warned of a deteriorating situation in Darfur, where access to aid has been severely restricted due to ongoing violence. Human Rights Watch has urged the UN and the African Union to impose targeted sanctions on those responsible for the atrocities and to deploy a new civilian protection mission to Darfur.
The international community’s response, however, has been criticised as insufficient. As of August 2024, the humanitarian crisis in Sudan remains critically underfunded. Only 41% of the UN’s 2024 appeal for $2.7 billion have been met, leaving a staggering gap of almost 1.6 billion. This inadequacy in humanitarian aid highlights the urgent need for a coordinated global approach to effectively address the crisis and protect vulnerable populations.
The lack of funding has forced aid agencies to scale back operations, making it increasingly difficult to reach vulnerable communities, particularly in conflict-ridden areas like Darfur. Here, the RSF’s aggression goes unchallenged. It further undermines humanitarian aid efforts to halt the violent campaigns. According to the UNHCR, the delivery of assistance in Sudan is heavily constricted by insecurity, a lack of access and funding shortfalls. The 2024 Humanitarian Response Plan is only 32% funded, leaving significant unmet needs.
The ongoing fighting, particularly in Darfur, has left many stranded and cut off from basic humanitarian assistance, with displaced civilians facing life-threatening obstacles while seeking safety.
Despite the urgent situation, where over 10 million people are internally displaced and about 25.6 million face acute food insecurity, the international response has been inadequate. A humanitarian conference hosted by France in April 2024 yielded over $2 billion in pledges, yet experts warn that this amount is insufficient to address the escalating needs.
What can we do?
As human beings, we have a responsibility to act and help alleviate the suffering of those affected by the crisis in Darfur. Raising awareness about the situation through social media, campus events and community discussions can bring much-needed attention to this humanitarian catastrophe. For instance, social media accounts such as The Sudan Page and Sudan Updates provide valuable information.
Organising fundraisers and donating to reputable organisations working on the ground can provide vital resources to those in need. Examples of such organisations include UNICEF, the International Rescue Committee, and Save the Children.
Advocating for policy changes by writing to elected officials and participating in campaigns can pressure governments to take stronger action. For UK citizens and residents, the Refugee Council provides information on how to support Sudan through petitions or by contacting local MPs.
It is crucial to talk, educate and learn about such humanitarian issues, as they are often overlooked in the mainstream media despite their severity. By educating ourselves and others, mobilising resources and using our voices to demand justice, we can contribute to meaningful change and support the people of Darfur in a time of dire need.
The ongoing silent genocide in Darfur and the broader humanitarian crisis in Sudan demand immediate attention and action from the international community. The RSF, allegedly backed by foreign powers, has unleashed a campaign of terror, ethnically cleansing the people of Darfur and culminating in one of the worst modern-day atrocities.
The international community’s response has been poor, hindered by political self-interest and a lack of coordinated effort. The Darfur genocide is rarely mentioned in the media and is regularly overshadowed by other global crises. However, it is essential to remember the vast number of people affected by this conflict.
There needs to be a stronger push for those in power to act now to stop this ignored genocide and restore the peace and dignity of the people of Sudan.
