Sudan Civil War Anniversary and Global News Updates

Sudan marks the third anniversary of its civil war on April 15, 2026, as the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continues to intensify. The power struggle, which began on April 15, 2023, has resulted in a de facto partition of the country and created what United Nations agencies describe as the world’s largest humanitarian and displacement crisis.

The scale of the devastation is reflected in widely varying death toll estimates. A former U.S. Envoy for Sudan has suggested that as many as 400,000 people have been killed since the fighting erupted. The conflict has triggered a massive displacement crisis, with reports indicating between 11 million and 14 million people have been forced from their homes.

Of those displaced, approximately nine million remain within Sudan, while between 4 million and 4.4 million have crossed borders into neighboring countries, including Chad, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Egypt. The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, has stated that these host nations are now at breaking point.

Humanitarian Collapse and Famine

Sudan’s economy has collapsed, leaving a significant portion of the population without basic necessities. UN agencies report that nearly 34 million people—approximately 65 per cent of the population—are in urgent need of humanitarian support, including food, water, shelter, and medicine.

The World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that the region is facing the world’s largest hunger crisis. Ross Smith, WFP Director of Emergency Preparedness and Response, stated that parts of the country have been experiencing famine for two years.

We are two years into a famine in parts of the country, and this is simply unacceptable in this day and age.

Ross Smith, WFP Director of Emergency Preparedness and Response

While nearly four million people have attempted to return to their communities, Zoe Brennan of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) noted that returnees find broken water systems, destruction, and a lack of basic shelter and healthcare.

Military Escalation and Civilian Impact

The nature of the warfare has evolved, with a shift toward drone technology that has proven deadly for non-combatants. Nearly 700 civilians have been killed by drone warfare so far in 2026.

Amnesty International has reported that the warring parties continue to carry out direct and indiscriminate attacks on civilians. These atrocities include the looting and destruction of civilian infrastructure, widespread sexual violence, and reprisal attacks following the takeover of towns and cities.

Humanitarian aid delivery remains severely restricted, as both the SAF and RSF are accused of blocking essential supplies from reaching those in need.

Failed Diplomacy and International Response

International mediation efforts, including those led by the United States, have failed to produce a ceasefire. The leaders of the SAF and RSF have refused to halt violence, bolstered by support from regional powers that enables continued fighting.

On April 15, 2026, international donors gathered in Berlin for a conference to address the crisis. However, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher described the anniversary as grim and chastening, stating that the international community has failed the test of Sudan.

Minimal, half-hearted and lacklustre responses from the African Union, the UN Security Council and other international and regional actors have only emboldened the perpetrators to continue carrying out these attacks.

Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General

Amnesty International is currently calling for the UN Security Council to expand the Darfur conflict referral to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to ensure the investigation and prosecution of crimes committed across the rest of Sudan.