Sudan's Civil War Enters Fourth Year Amid Looming Energy Crisis

Sudan has marked three years since a brutal civil war began between its national army, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group. The conflict escalated following a 2021 military coup that displaced the civilian-led government established after the oustal of longtime dictator Omar al-Bashir in 2019. Both factions have been accused of committing severe war crimes, including ethnic cleansing, systemic sexual violence, and starvation tactics against civilians.

Sudanese political analyst Kholood Khair describes the conflict as a power struggle for control over Sudan's military and security apparatus, rather than an accidental collateral damage of warfare. "This war is precisely about succession," she explains, emphasizing that both sides aim to inherit the authoritarian state structure. The ongoing U.S.-Israeli tensions with Iran, located across the Arabian Peninsula and Red Sea, further complicate the situation. These geopolitical dynamics risk turning Sudan's crisis into a proxy war, while supply chain disruptions worsen the already dire humanitarian conditions.

The conflict has deepened Sudan's energy crisis, exacerbating food insecurity and economic instability. As global powers navigate shifting alliances, the stakes for Sudan's civilians grow increasingly perilous, with no clear resolution in sight.