The ongoing civil war in Sudan, which erupted on April 15, 2023, and is nearing its third year, continues to evolve rapidly with significant developments on the ground.
The Sudanese army, supported by its allies—including radical Islamist militias—has made considerable strides in recapturing strategic locations, such as Wad Madani, the capital of Gezira State.
However, these military successes are overshadowed by severe human rights violations against civilians, prompting international outrage and leading the United States to impose sanctions on Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.
In January 2025, the Sudanese army successfully regained control of Wad Madani, Sudan’s second-largest city and Gezira’s capital, after months of occupation by the RSF. This achievement followed a large-scale counteroffensive initiated in October 2024 during the dry season. The operation broke the RSF’s siege of the army’s headquarters in Khartoum and reclaimed critical areas in Omdurman and Bahri.
Political analyst Zeidan told the BBC: “The army has reclaimed the initiative, marking a decisive shift on the battlefield—one that defies the constraints of U.S. sanctions.” However, international organizations and local reports indicate severe violations against civilians in the recently retaken regions.
Human Rights Watch documented indiscriminate airstrikes on residential neighborhoods and religious sites in Wad Madani, including the bombing of Sheikh al-Geili Mosque in October 2024, which claimed dozens of lives.
The abuses extend beyond airstrikes, with reports of extrajudicial killings and widespread arrests of civilians accused of supporting the RSF or being its “social incubator.”
A February 2024 report from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights stated: “The army and its allies have carried out arbitrary arrests and incommunicado detentions, with reports of civilians being tortured.”
The report also noted that, as of July 2023, at least 500 people, including 24 women, were still unaccounted for. In Gezira State, the Wad Madani Resistance Committee reported that the army and its allied militias were kidnapping anyone suspected of having ties to the RSF.
Eyewitnesses quoted by Reuters described incidents where “army personnel executed young men in northern Gezira villages on mere suspicion of RSF loyalty.”
Despite international mediation efforts led by the U.S., Saudi Arabia, and the African Union, both the Sudanese army and the RSF have rejected peace talks. A U.S. diplomat told The New York Times in January 2025: “Al-Burhan prefers war over negotiations.”
In response, the U.S. imposed sanctions on al-Burhan on January 16, 2025, citing civilian targeting, obstruction of humanitarian aid, and refusal to engage in peace talks.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for “urgent dialogue between the warring parties,” while Special Envoy Ramtane Lamamra continues his mediation efforts. However, as of March 2025, progress remains limited.
The effects of Sudan’s war have spread well beyond its borders, with neighboring countries like Uganda bearing the brunt of the humanitarian crisis.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), over 11 million Sudanese have been displaced, with 1.5 million seeking refuge in neighboring nations.
Uganda, already home to over 1.5 million refugees, has seen thousands more Sudanese cross its borders, putting further strain on its limited resources. Edmore Tundlana from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stressed the disproportionate impact on women and girls, with reports of rape and abductions on the rise.
The escalating ethnic violence in Darfur and Gezira raises concerns that the conflict could spill into neighboring states such as Chad and Ethiopia. Uganda is also worried about the flow of arms and fighters across its northern border, potentially empowering insurgent groups in the region.
The African Union has warned that the prolonged war poses a significant obstacle to the continent’s broader development goals. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, during a diplomatic visit to Africa in June 2023, emphasized the “urgent need for a resolution to the Sudanese crisis,” highlighting its “far-reaching dangers for the entire continent.”
Sudan’s war presents a grim paradox: while the army secures military victories, civilian suffering intensifies, and peace remains out of reach—further destabilizing the region. For Uganda and the wider African continent, the ongoing conflict creates mounting humanitarian and security challenges, making international intervention crucial to ending the violence and ensuring accountability.
Will Sudan’s crisis continue to expose the world’s inability to act, or could it inspire a genuine regional effort toward lasting peace?
