Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za
3-minute read
08 January 2025 | 14:04 CAT

The Africa Report: As Sudan’s civil war deepens and aid routes in South Sudan collapse, the humanitarian crisis escalates across the region.

Sudan’s brutal civil war continues to spiral as the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) intensify attacks on critical infrastructure using drone warfare, plunging millions further into crisis. Following months of ground battles, the RSF has launched a new phase of conflict by striking deep into government-controlled territory, crippling essential services and aggravating what is already the world’s largest humanitarian disaster.

In an interview with Radio Islam International, Sudanese journalist Saeed Abdullah, painted a grim picture of the situation.

“The RSF has moved from street-to-street fighting to long-range drone strikes, targeting power stations in cities like Omdurman and even as far as Port Sudan,” Abdullah said. “These drone attacks are not just about military gains – they’re cutting off power, water, and hope.”

The escalation has pushed more than 13 million Sudanese into displacement, as blackouts and water shortages worsen the collapse of an already fragile state. Cities once considered safe zones, such as Port Sudan, are now under threat. Once a haven during the 2023 conflict, the eastern city has become the latest target, sending shockwaves across the region.

Drone attacks on Port Sudan – now the army’s de facto wartime capital – have persisted for over 60 consecutive days, hitting both military installations and civilian zones. These strikes, Abdullah notes, signal a dangerous shift in the war’s dynamics.

“The army is now accusing foreign actors, particularly the UAE, of arming and financing the RSF,” said Abdullah. “There’s talk of severing diplomatic ties, despite longstanding economic relations, especially in gold and banking.”

This accusation reflects broader concerns of foreign entanglements that may pull the region into a deeper conflict. With Sudan’s gold resources and Red Sea access at stake, the war risks becoming a proxy battleground for competing regional interests.

Despite nearly two years of conflict, neither side has achieved a decisive victory.

“Both parties are chasing a military win that is no longer viable,” Abdullah emphasised. “It’s time to return to negotiations. The longer this war drags on, the more civilian lives are lost.”

Observers warn that unless meaningful dialogue resumes, Sudan will descend further into anarchy, with its infrastructure in ruins and millions left in despair.

Meanwhile, neighbouring South Sudan faces a dire humanitarian emergency. Over 60,000 malnourished children in the Upper Nile region are at risk as fighting disrupts aid supply routes along the White Nile – the region’s main artery.

No humanitarian assistance has reached the area in nearly a month, with UNICEF and the World Food Programme warning that nutrition supplies may run out by the end of May. Flooding, looting, and insecurity have paralysed operations, forcing agencies to withhold aid out of concern it won’t reach its intended recipients.

“Without urgent action, we are looking at a catastrophic surge in child malnutrition,” Abdullah warned. “The world cannot stand by as an entire generation is put at risk.”

As the crisis deepens on both fronts, the call for international intervention grows louder. Without immediate support and diplomatic pressure for a ceasefire, Sudan and South Sudan risk being plunged into an even greater humanitarian catastrophe.

Listen to the full Africa Report on Sabaahul Muslim with Muallimah Shakira Hunter and Journalist Saeed Abdullah.