Bloody Humanitarian Catastrophe in Sudan — A Nation’s Future Devoured by the RSF Conflict

Liton Hossain Jihad: The East African nation of Sudan is now enduring one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes in modern history. From the capital Khartoum to Darfur, fire, destruction, and death have become part of daily life.

A brutal war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has claimed thousands of lives, displaced hundreds of thousands of families, and left countless children crying in hunger and fear.

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) originated from the Janjaweed militia, which gained infamy during the Darfur conflict of 2003. Then-President Omar al-Bashir used the Janjaweed to crush rebellions, and they were accused of atrocities including mass killings, rape, and ethnic cleansing.

In 2013, the group was officially restructured and renamed the Rapid Support Forces. It is led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as Hemedti.

Although the RSF was formally integrated into Sudan’s national security framework, in reality it evolved into an independent, heavily armed force operating outside traditional military command. The growing rivalry between the RSF and the national army ultimately led to a full-scale civil war in 2023.

The conflict began in April 2023, when both the army and the RSF sought to seize control of the state.

After a military coup, Sudan had been moving toward civilian rule, but distrust between the two forces over the power-sharing process ignited deadly clashes.

Fighting soon engulfed Khartoum, Omdurman, Darfur, Kordofan, and the Blue Nile regions, plunging the nation into chaos.

According to United Nations data, over the past two years more than 12,000 people have been killed, over 10 million displaced, and millions of children are suffering from severe malnutrition.

In Darfur, fears of renewed ethnic cleansing are growing.

The UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) has reported that RSF troops are responsible for summary executions, massacres, and sexual violence.

Human rights organizations confirm that women and children are the main victims, with deaths increasing sharply due to a lack of food, water, and medical care.

In January 2025, the United States officially declared that the RSF had committed genocide in Darfur, imposing sanctions on RSF leader Hemedti.

Despite repeated calls for peace talks from the United Nations, the African Union, and the Arab League, no significant progress has been achieved on the ground.

Reports from The Guardian and The Washington Post reveal that RSF forces have attacked UN food convoys, killed health workers, and set refugee camps ablaze.

This war is not merely about power or politics—it is a war against humanity itself.

A heartbreaking image of a three-year-old Sudanese child dragging his mother’s dead body has shaken the world’s conscience.

Sudan, Gaza, and Arakan—all cry out with the same question:

“Is civilization truly alive, or merely wearing a mask while worshipping the gods of violence?”

The war in Sudan proves one undeniable truth—

when power and greed unite, humanity becomes the easiest prey.

The image of a child pulling his mother’s corpse stands as a symbol of defiance against modern civilization, as if shouting:

“You are not humans—you are beasts disguised in the garments of war!”

• Al Jazeera, “Sudan unrest: What is the Rapid Support Forces?”

• Britannica, “Rapid Support Forces (RSF)”

• The Guardian, “Attack on UN aid convoy in Darfur”

• The Washington Post, “Sudan paramilitary kills dozens”