How war in Sudan created the world’s largest displacement crisis

Sudan is now grappling with the largest global displacement crisis, with over 10 million people forced from their homes by a civil war that has killed more than 150,000 people and triggered widespread famine.

The conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has created a catastrophic humanitarian situation where women and children bear the heaviest burden. International Organization for Migration director general Amy Pope warns the crisis receives inadequate international attention despite escalating violence and blocked aid access. This examination covers the conflict’s origins, key figures, devastating impacts, and how it generated unprecedented human displacement.

Roots of the Conflict

The current war has its roots in decades of authoritarian rule, ethnic tensions and resource competition, though it dramatically intensified following the 2019 removal of longtime leader Omar al-Bashir. Bashir‘s three-decade regime combined military authority with Islamist policies, brutally suppressing rebellions in Darfur where government-backed militias committed atrocities that led to his 2009 International Criminal Court genocide indictment.

Regional conflicts in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile stemmed from systemic inequalities, with Khartoum’s Arab-dominated elite historically marginalizing outlying regions. Economic crises, including sudden bread price hikes, ignited the 2019 protests that ultimately toppled Bashir, leading to a fragile power-sharing government between civilians and the military with democratic elections planned for 2022.

This transitional arrangement collapsed in October 2021 when SAF commander General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, staged a military coup that dissolved the civilian government. The RSF, originating from the Janjaweed militias notorious for the 2003-2005 Darfur violence that killed approximately 300,000 people, had evolved into a wealthy parallel army financed through gold mining and international alliances.

Key Figures and Factions

The personal rivalry between two military leaders lies at the heart of the conflict. General Burhan, a career military officer trained in Egypt and Jordan, rose through the ranks under Bashir and became Sudan’s de facto ruler following the 2021 coup. He has aligned with Islamist factions and Egypt, controlling eastern and northern regions including crucial Red Sea ports.

His counterpart, General Hemedti, comes from Darfur’s Rizeigat tribe and transformed the RSF from Janjaweed militias into a sophisticated fighting force. Beginning his career as a camel trader, Hemedti now commands a group accused of ethnic cleansing and overseeing a multibillion-dollar gold trafficking operation. He portrays his campaign as a revolution against Sudan’s entrenched political establishment.

The conflict has drawn in numerous international players, with the United Arab Emirates providing military support to the RSF via Chad, while Russia’s Africa Corps seeks gold mining concessions. Iran supplies combat drones to the army, and Turkey provides humanitarian assistance, transforming an internal power struggle into a prolonged proxy war.

Escalation and Major Developments

Fighting erupted on 15 April 2023 when RSF forces attacked army positions across Khartoum. The violence spread rapidly, transforming the capital of five million people into an urban battleground of airstrikes, street fighting and widespread looting. By June 2023, RSF fighters controlled much of Khartoum, forcing Burhan’s government to relocate to Port Sudan.

In Darfur, the conflict revived grim memories of earlier genocides, with sieges on cities like El Fasher and systematic attacks on Masalit and Fur communities. Significant developments included the RSF capture of the agricultural center Wad Madani in December 2023, dealing a severe blow to the country’s food production capacity, though the army regained some territory in Omdurman in early 2024.

Repeated ceasefire negotiations in Jeddah mediated by Saudi Arabia and the United States have collapsed, while the continued flow of foreign weapons has intensified the fighting. By mid-2024, famine conditions emerged in Darfur’s Zamzam camp, with child malnutrition rates soaring to catastrophic levels.

Humanitarian Catastrophe

The human cost of the conflict has been staggering, with documented deaths exceeding 150,000 by late 2025, though actual figures are likely substantially higher. The RSF faces new genocide allegations in Darfur, including mass killings, systematic sexual violence and targeted attacks on specific ethnic communities. Army airstrikes have repeatedly hit civilian areas, while both sides have been accused of using hunger as a weapon by blocking humanitarian aid.

Famine conditions now affect multiple regions including El Fasher and Kadugli, with approximately 24.6 million people—half of Sudan’s population—facing acute food insecurity. Over 522,000 children were projected to die from malnutrition in 2025 alone. Sudan’s economy has contracted by 40%, with inflation surpassing 200% as gold smuggling finances continued fighting.

The collapse of essential infrastructure has suspended education for 19 million children and prompted cholera outbreaks that have killed thousands. Regional neighbors including Chad, South Sudan and Egypt struggle to accommodate the flood of refugees, while abandoned farms threaten long-term food production and environmental stability.

The Displacement Crisis

Displacement represents the conflict’s most visible impact, with approximately 12 million people forced from their homes—including 10 million internally displaced and 2 million seeking refuge across borders. Initial fighting in Khartoum uprooted four million people, while subsequent violence in Darfur displaced hundreds of thousands more, including 200,000 from El Fasher in October 2024 alone.

Women and children constitute roughly 80% of the displaced, facing heightened risks of sexual violence, trafficking and exploitation during flight. The Zamzam camp, housing 500,000 people, experiences famine conditions amid severe aid restrictions. This crisis has now surpassed Syria’s refugee numbers, becoming the world’s largest displacement situation despite receiving only 20% of required funding.

Current Situation and International Response

As of late 2025, the war continues into its third year with RSF forces advancing eastward after consolidating control in Darfur. Despite army airstrikes, the paramilitaries have demonstrated resilience with continued international support, capturing additional territory in Kordofan region and displacing thousands more civilians.

In early November 2025, the RSF accepted a United States-proposed ceasefire, though the army has yet to respond. The International Criminal Court has initiated proceedings against alleged war criminals, but accountability remains elusive. African Union peace initiatives have stalled while famine conditions are expected to deteriorate further into 2026.

The crisis demands an urgent international response, with IOM’s Pope advocating for dramatically increased funding and guaranteed humanitarian corridors. Without a sustainable peace agreement, displacement levels will continue rising, deepening the wounds inflicted upon a nation that has already endured unimaginable suffering.