Sudan Country Report
As of mid-April 2023, fighting continues between the Sudan National Army (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Khartoum and Darfur regions. The latest battle is the culmination of a multi-year power struggle between SAF commander General Abdul Fattah al-Barhan and his lieutenant and RSF leader General Mohammad Hamdan Dagalo (Hemat). The integration of RSF forces into the Sudanese army makes Hammat lose control of his forces. Tensions between the two leaders escalated in December after a military-civilian accord was signed to end a deadlock between the security and political elites. According to the signed framework, a transitional civilian government was to be established in early April 2023. However, several issues hindered the implementation of the project, including the integration of RSF units into the army.
The conflict between the RSF and the SAF has led to mass violence between Arab and non-Arab tribes in the Darfur region. There have also been reports of looting, arson, and indiscriminate shooting of non-combatants. Opportunistic criminal violence and long-standing ethnic tensions have escalated, both contributing to the conflict. Food, water, medicine, and fuel are all becoming increasingly scarce and costs are rising.
Criminal threats remain high in the major cities of Khartoum and Darfur, with looting mainly carried out by the RSF and SAF-affiliated officials.
Last updated: July 18, 2023
Security
As of mid-April 2023, fighting continues between the Sudan National Army (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Khartoum and Darfur regions. The recent clashes between SAF military commander General Abdul Fattah al-Barhan and his deputy and RSF military leader General Mohammad Hamdan Dagalo (Hemat) are over several issues, including integration. This is the continuation of a long-running power struggle. The integration of the RSF into the Sudanese army would make Hemat lose control of the RSF. Tensions between the two leaders escalated in December after a military-civilian accord was signed to end a deadlock between the security and political elites. According to the signed framework, a transitional civilian government was to be established in early April 2023. However, several issues hindered the implementation of the project, including the integration of RSF units into the army.
The conflict between the RSF and the SAF has led to mass violence between Arab and non-Arab tribes in the Darfur region. Incidents include looting, arson, and indiscriminate shooting of non-combatants. Opportunistic criminal violence and long-standing ethnic tensions have escalated, both contributing to the conflict. Food, water, medicine, and fuel are all becoming increasingly scarce and costs are rising.
Recent clashes have put the 2020 Juba Peace Agreement signed by the government and several armed groups at risk, as some armed groups have launched attacks against SAF forces in Darfur and Blue Nile states.
Last updated: July 18, 2023
Infrastructure
Air travel safety is a major concern in Sudan, as only a handful of reliable airlines operate regular flights to Khartoum International Airport (KRT).
Overland travel also comes with many risks, including restricted movement, armed robbery, poor road conditions and erratic driving by some local users.
The port of Sudan is inefficient.
Sudan’s energy supply is primarily limited to urban centers, where aging infrastructure and a lack of power generation capacity lead to frequent blackouts. Internet access is usually limited to large urban centers and suffers from slow speeds, high costs, and frequent outages.
Cybercrime is not a serious concern due to the limited access to the internet among the population.
Last updated: December 29, 2022
Environment
Sudan’s climate is generally dry, with temperatures regularly exceeding 40 °C (104 °F) throughout the country. The amount of rainfall varies throughout the country and the highest amount of rainfall is in the south and the lowest in the north. The rainy season usually lasts from July to October, but the onset of the rainy season is influenced by complex weather patterns and can be significantly delayed, leading to drought and food security problems.
Low to moderate earthquakes are rarely reported in the northern and northeastern regions of Sudan. The country is prone to flooding after torrential rains during the summer, especially in the central and southern provinces, and sandstorms frequently disrupt land and air travel. Unexploded ordnance and landmines are also a threat in many parts of the country, especially in the Darfur region and the southern states of Abyei, Blue Nile, and South Kordofan.
Last updated: April 3, 2023
Health and Medical
Sudan is home to many vector-borne and water-borne diseases, including malaria, dengue fever, cholera, meningitis, and Rift Valley fever. Medical facilities in Khartoum are mostly limited and offer only basic medical care and all serious medical cases often require evacuation. Prescription and over-the-counter medications are not readily available, so travelers are advised to carry enough prescription medications to cover the entire trip. Sanitation is also a concern in Khartoum, as sources of food and drink outside of luxury hotels pose a potential health risk.
Last updated: February 24, 2022
Political
Sudan experienced a three-decade period of relative political stability under the dictatorship of President Omar al-Bashir, a period of military coups, although protracted conflicts in Darfur and the south combined with low electoral rates marred the previous image. which was defined by them. The presence of voters weakened the legitimacy of the government to some extent. However, Mr. Bashir’s mismanagement of the economy and low tolerance for dissent led to widespread public anger against his regime, which ultimately led to sustained and widespread opposition in 2018 and 2019. A wave of protests started. After losing control of the situation and public trust, Mr. Bashir was removed from his traditional power base, the security forces, in a coup d’état in April 2019, and the country was placed under the control of the Transitional Military Council.
In late October 2021, a military coup of the interim government took place and Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok resigned. The army under the leadership of General Abdul Fattah al-Barhan announced the state of emergency and the dissolution of the interim ruling council and the cabinet. Burhan added that the military will form a two-party government that will remain in power until elections are held to elect a civilian government in July 2023. The army subsequently released Hamdouk from house arrest and returned him to the Politburo on November 21. However, it was short lived. Hamdok resigned on January 2, 2022 due to a lack of agreement between the civilian and military factions of the transitional government.
In December 2022, military and civilian rebels signed a pact to end the stalemate between the security and political elites. According to the signed framework, a transitional civilian government was to be established in early April 2023. However, several issues hindered the implementation of the project, including the integration of the RSF forces into the army, and a war broke out between the SAF and the SAF. RSF April 2023.
Last updated: July 18, 2023
