Sudan is the largest country in Africa and a country with a long history. The ancient Sultan was called Nubia, which means gold in ancient Egyptian, and the region was established as a state in 2000 BC. In the 8th century BC, the Sultans revolted on a massive scale, driving out the Egyptians and establishing the Kingdom of Kush. In 751 BC, Piye, ruler of the Kingdom of Kush, conquered Upper Egypt from the Berbers who had invaded Egypt and proclaimed himself Pharaoh, but the sultan did not remain unified for a long time in its history, and wars and civil strife took place in this region for a long time.
Since its independence from Anglo-Egyptian rule in 1956, Sudan has experienced numerous civil wars, coups, divisions and humanitarian crises. The most recent unrest occurred on October 25, 2021, when the military arrested Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and several other civilian officials of the transitional government and announced the dissolution of the transitional government and the sovereign council, a joint governing body made up of the military and civilians. The military said the move was to prevent the country from descending into chaos and pledged to continue the democratic transition and electoral process. However, the action was met with widespread condemnation and protest at home and abroad, with many seeing it as a betrayal of the democratic revolution that overthrew former President Omar al-Bashir in 2019.
So why is Sudan in such an unstable situation? To answer this question, we need to look at the complex realities of the Sudan from a historical and political perspective.
First of all, Sudan is a diverse country with different races, religions, languages and cultures. According to the 2018 census, Sudan has a population of about 44 million, of which about 70% are of Arab descent and 30% are non-Arab. Religiously, about 97 percent are Muslim, 2 percent are Christians and 1 percent are of other faiths. Linguistically, the official language is Arabic, but at least 70 other languages are spoken. Culturally, Sudan can be divided into five regions: northern, eastern, western, central, and southern, each with its own unique traditions and customs.
That diversity was not a problem in itself, but the lack of a political system capable of representing and protecting the interests of all groups equally. Since independence, Sudan's politics have been dominated by Arabized and Islamized elites in the north, who have often ignored or suppressed the demands of other regions and minorities. For example, between 1955 and 1972 and 1983 and 2005, Sudan erupted in two decades-long civil wars that resulted in millions of deaths or displacement. The southern region is mainly made up of non-Arab Christians or traditional believers who oppose the policies of Arabization and Islamization that the northern government is trying to impose on them and demand more autonomy and resource allocation. After years of struggle and negotiation, the southern region finally seceded from Sudan in 2011 through a referendum and became an independent country, South Sudan. However, this did not end the unrest in Sudan, as similar resistance movements began elsewhere.
The most serious of these is the conflict in Darfur in the west. Darfur is a predominantly agricultural non-Arab group that is at odds with Arabs, who are predominantly nomadic for resources such as pasture and water. In 2003, armed groups supported by farmers accused the Government of discriminatory policies against them and launched anti-Government military operations. The government sent troops and supported militias to crack down, leading to large-scale violence and a humanitarian crisis. It is estimated that the conflict in Darfur has killed 300,000 people and displaced more than 2.5 million people since 2003. The United Nations and the African Union have sent peacekeeping troops into Darfur to try to protect civilians and promote the peace process. However, owing to a lack of political will and trust on the part of the parties and an unstable security situation, the question of Darfur has not yet been fundamentally resolved.
In addition to regional and ethnic divisions, Sudanese politics have also been influenced by ideological and power struggles. Since independence, the Sudan has experienced many coups and elections, but no Government has been able to truly achieve democracy, the rule of law and human rights. One of the most influential and controversial was the reign of President Al-Bashir. Bashir came to power in 1989 through a military coup and officially became president in 1993. He introduced a series of Islamized and centralized reforms, which provoked opposition and resistance at home and abroad. He has also been charged with serious crimes such as genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in the conflict in Darfur and has been arrested by the International Criminal Court. Under Bashir's rule, the Sudanese economy has also struggled, with declining living standards due to international sanctions, reduced oil revenues, inflation, poverty and corruption.
In December 2018, an unprecedented democratic revolutionary movement erupted in Sudan, demanding al-Bashir's resignation and the establishment of a civilian-led transitional government. The campaign was launched by opposition organizations such as the Association of Professionals (SPA) and was supported by the general public, trade unions, students, women, youth and other groups. The movement also demonstrated the unity and creativity of the Sudanese people, who expressed their demands and emotions through art, music, poetry, dance, graffiti and other forms. The movement was initially peaceful, but was violently suppressed by the government and military, especially on June 3, 2019, when the military launched a bloody massacre of protesters camped in the capital, Khartoum, killing at least 128 people and wounding hundreds. The incident provoked strong condemnation from the international community and inspired greater resistance from the Sudanese people. Eventually, with the good offices of regional and international forces such as the African Union and Ethiopia, the military and civilian leaders reached a power-sharing agreement and formed a transitional government.
The problems of the Sudan have not been resolved by the division of the southern region. On the contrary, new crises are constantly emerging. In April 2019, after 30 years of authoritarian rule, President Bashir was overthrown by the military and imprisoned. The military and the civilian opposition formed a transitional military council and committed themselves to achieving the transition to a civilian government within three years. However, during the transition period, there were numerous disagreements and clashes between military and civilian representatives. On October 25, 2021, the military staged a coup d'état and arrested several civilian government officials and opposition leaders. This sparked nationwide protests and strike action demanding the restoration of civilian government and calling on the international community to put pressure on the military
On April 15, 2023, a heavy battle broke out in and beyond the capital, Khartoum. The fighting was reportedly triggered by an attempted coup by Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The RSF is a paramilitary group made up of former rebels in Darfur that has carried out repression of civilians under the al-Bashir regime. In the 2019 coup, the RSF, allied with the military, overthrew Bashir and held a prominent seat on the Transitional Military Council. However, during the transition, divergent interests and power struggles arose between the RSF and the military. The RSF has tried to expand its influence and resources, even establishing diplomatic relations with countries such as Israel and Saudi Arabia. The military, concerned about the RSF's ambitions and threats, sought to weaken its strength and position.
The fighting killed at least 59 people, both civilians and soldiers. The United Nations Transitional Integrated Assistance Mission in the Sudan issued a statement strongly condemning the fighting and calling on both sides to return calm to the situation. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also expressed deep concern about the situation in Sudan and urged all parties to respect human rights and international humanitarian law.
Why is the country in the Sudan in turmoil, the war is constant, and what is the problem? This is a complex and multifaceted question with no easy answers. The problems of the Sudan involve historical, political, economic, social, cultural, religious, ethnic and geographical dimensions. The problem of the Sudan is not an isolated one, but one linked to the patterns and interests of Africa and the world. The problems of the Sudan require joint efforts and dialogue on the part of all parties to find ways to peace and development.