Sudan's Turmoil: From Revolution to Civil War

 

On December 19, 2018, a revolution ignited in Sudan. After decades under President Omar al-Bashir’s oppressive military regime, civilians rose up, demanding democracy. By April 2019, two men—General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and paramilitary leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemeti)—joined forces to oust Bashir in a coup, promising a democratic transition. However, four years later, these former allies are at war, plunging Sudan into chaos and killing hundreds of civilians.

Sudan has a long history of military coups. Since gaining independence in 1956, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have wielded significant power. Bashir, who seized power in 1989, used a tactic called "coup-proofing," relying on multiple security forces to protect him while ensuring they remained divided. This strategy included empowering Hemeti and his Janjaweed militia—later formalized as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)—which played a central role in the atrocities in Darfur.

By 2018, economic crises and corruption led to widespread protests against Bashir. Although both the SAF and RSF initially defended him, they ultimately turned against him, toppling his regime in April 2019. Protesters celebrated Bashir’s fall but remained wary of Burhan and Hemeti, who had both been complicit in past violence.

Pro-democracy demonstrations continued, pressuring the military to share power with civilians. In 2019, a transitional council was formed, but tensions escalated as the SAF and RSF resisted fully relinquishing control. Hemeti, enriched by Sudan's gold trade, positioned himself as a rival to Burhan, vying for greater power.

By 2023, disagreements over integrating the RSF into the SAF deepened their rivalry. Hemeti sought a ten-year timeline, while Burhan demanded a two-year plan. This dispute erupted into open conflict, with Burhan's forces controlling the skies and Hemeti's RSF dominating on the ground.

Sudan, once hopeful for democracy, is now a battlefield. The international community’s interventions have failed to prevent the ongoing war, leaving civilians betrayed by their leaders and global powers alike.