Sudan — Mediation Failure, Atrocities, and Emerging Famine
Two years into conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Persistent hostilities and blocked humanitarian access have created one of the world’s worst protection and food-security crises.
Updated 11 Nov 2025 | Location: Sudan / Darfur Region
At a Glance
| Status | Active armed conflict; repeated ceasefires collapsed; humanitarian access blocked. [ReliefWeb; Reuters; MSF] |
| Period Covered | Apr 2023 – Nov 2025 |
| Lead Actors | Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF); Rapid Support Forces (RSF); regional and international facilitators. [ReliefWeb] |
| Affected Civilians | Millions displaced; widespread food insecurity and gender-based violence; entire towns destroyed. [MSF; IOM; UNFPA; Al Jazeera; Reuters] |
| UN / Regional Mechanisms | UN agencies, AU, IGAD, and regional mediators have called for humanitarian corridors and renewed dialogue. [UNFPA; ReliefWeb; The East African] |
Timeline of Key Events
- Apr 2023 — War erupts between SAF and RSF in Khartoum and Darfur. [ReliefWeb]
- Jul–Sep 2024 — Humanitarian routes blocked; urban combat devastates Khartoum and El Fasher. [MSF; IOM]
- Oct 2025 — Reports confirm summary executions and atrocities in Darfur. [Reuters; Al Jazeera]
- Nov 2025 — UN agencies warn of famine conditions and “catastrophic displacement.” [UNFPA; IOM; MSF]
- Nov 2025 — Regional media highlight global indifference and stalled mediation. [The East African; Sudan Tribune; RSF]
Metrics & Indicators
| Indicator | Baseline | Current Status | Target (Five Actions) |
| Durable ceasefire in place | None since 2023 | Ongoing fighting in Darfur and Khartoum. [ReliefWeb] | Monitored, verified cessation of hostilities |
| Humanitarian access | Limited but possible (2022) | Severely blocked; access corridors denied. [MSF; UNFPA] | Guaranteed humanitarian corridors and carve-outs |
| Food security / malnutrition | High risk | Extreme malnutrition and famine-like conditions. [MSF; UNFPA] | Reopened supply chains and restored nutrition services |
| Displacement | ~3 million (pre-2023) | Over 10 million displaced across Sudan and neighboring states. [IOM] | Stabilisation and voluntary return frameworks |
| Estimated people affected | ~6 million in need (2022) | ~25 million in need; 14 million children affected. [MSF; IOM; UNFPA] | <5 million affected with full humanitarian coverage |
| Information environment | Restricted | Exile journalism and blocked verification. [RSF; Sudan Tribune] | Protected, verifiable data environment |
Situation Overview
The war between Sudan’s army and the Rapid Support Forces has destroyed cities, fragmented the state, and created one of the world’s largest displacement crises. Entire towns in Darfur have been burned, and local communities report systematic killings along ethnic lines. [Reuters; The East African]
International agencies warn of mass starvation as markets collapse and food convoys remain blocked. Hospitals have closed, and humanitarian staff face daily risks. [MSF; UNFPA; IOM]
External supply chains, according to multiple reports, continue to arm the RSF, sustaining the conflict. Meanwhile, Sudanese media in exile struggle to report on atrocities. [SudanReeves.org; RSF; Sudan Tribune]
Why It Matters
Sudan’s collapse risks regional destabilisation, cross-border famine, and a precedent of unchecked atrocity crimes. Without verifiable ceasefire monitoring and humanitarian access, famine and genocide will continue to expand. [MSF; ReliefWeb; Al Jazeera; The East African]
Application of the Five Actions
- Ceasefire Services Package – Deploy technical ceasefire monitors and verification cells for Darfur and Khartoum corridors. [ReliefWeb]
- Rapid Mediation Window – Initiate short, high-intensity mediation cycles under regional leadership to formalise humanitarian truces. [ReliefWeb; Reuters]
- Peacebuilding Fund – Recovery & Stabilisation Window – Finance local recovery, basic services, and livelihoods in temporarily stable areas. [UNFPA; IOM; MSF]
- Humanitarian Carve-Outs – Institutionalise UN-standard carve-outs to guarantee cross-line aid delivery and protect medical operations. [UNFPA; MSF]
- UN-Tech Joint Cell – Establish shared information cell for ceasefire data, humanitarian corridor tracking, and protection monitoring. [RSF; Sudan Tribune]
Key Takeaways
- Sudan’s mediation efforts have failed to prevent mass atrocities. [ReliefWeb]
- 25 million people now depend on humanitarian aid, but access is systematically blocked. [MSF; IOM; UNFPA]
- Five Actions implementation offers the only practical route to monitored ceasefire and humanitarian recovery. [The East African]
Likely Outcome
Without the Five Actions, Sudan faces deepening famine, forced displacement, and ethnic cleansing. Their implementation could enable verified corridors, stabilise aid delivery, and lay groundwork for recovery. [ReliefWeb; Reuters; MSF]
Accountability Today
Atrocities and aid obstruction are well-documented but largely unverified on the ground. Information suppression and exile journalism limit public accountability. [Reuters; RSF; Sudan Tribune]
Accountability with the Five Actions Implemented
Third-party monitoring, transparent data-sharing, and verified ceasefire metrics would allow the UN and civil society to document violations and coordinate responses in real time. [UNFPA; MSF; IOM; ReliefWeb]
Implementation Path
- Immediate (0–30 days): Deploy ceasefire verification teams for El Fasher and Khartoum corridors. [ReliefWeb]
- 30–90 days: Activate humanitarian carve-outs and establish protected aid routes. [MSF; UNFPA; IOM]
- Quarterly: Publish open, verified access data via UN-Tech Joint Cell. [RSF; Sudan Tribune]
Sources
Sources are provided for context only. All rights remain with original publishers.
The Spirit of Dag – Reflection
“The Charter does not need rewriting; it needs remembering.”
– The Spirit of Dag
And The Five Actions implemented as quickly as possible, because every delay costs lives.
