Archive · 18 Jan 2026
Sudan's 1,000 Days of War: Roots and Devastation
Sudan has been at war for over 1,000 days.
The fighting is between the country's army and a group called the Rapid Support Forces.
This war has caused a lot of suffering, with many people forced to leave their homes, not enough food, and terrible violence.
The conflict has deep roots, going back many years, and involves long-standing tensions and power struggles.
The world is trying to help, but it's very hard because the situation is so bad and there isn't enough support.
Despite the difficulties, some people in Sudan are still working for peace and trying to rebuild their lives.
Sudan's civil war, lasting over 1,000 days, is one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises, with massive displacement and hunger.
The conflict is primarily between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a militia with roots in the Janjaweed.
Historical context includes decades of conflict, military rule, and ethnic tensions, with the current war stemming from a power struggle post-2019 revolution.
El-Fasher, a key city in Darfur, fell to the RSF in October 2025 after an 18-month siege, resulting in massacres and severe humanitarian conditions.
The international community's response is under-resourced due to funding cuts and geopolitical distractions, exacerbating the crisis.
- Who
- Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are the primary combatants, with civilian populations severely affected.
- What
- A brutal civil war characterized by massacres, displacement, and humanitarian crises.
- When
- The conflict began in April 2023 and has lasted over 1,000 days as of the report.
- Where
- Primarily in Sudan, with significant impacts in Darfur, El-Fasher, and Khartoum, and spillover into neighboring countries like Chad and the Central African Republic.
- Why
- The conflict stems from a power struggle between the SAF and RSF, rooted in decades of political instability, military rule, and ethnic tensions.
- Conflict Duration
- Over 1,000 days (since April 2023)
- Key Parties
- Sudanese Armed Forces vs. Rapid Support Forces
- Notable Locations
- Darfur, El-Fasher, Khartoum
- Humanitarian Crisis
- World's largest displacement crisis, severe hunger emergency
- Historical Context
- Roots trace back to 1956 independence, decades of conflict
- Current Casualties
- Mass deaths, starvation, sexual violence, societal destruction
- International Involvement
- US-led truce proposals rejected, UAE accused of backing RSF
- Humanitarian Response
- Under-resourced, funding cuts, global retreat from responsibility