Conflict in Sudan
A brief description of the conflict in Sudan, and the need for international accountability.
By: Ian L. Courts¹
Sudan is in the midst of military conflict, and on the brink, if not already of civil war. Two warring factions, the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are fighting to determine who will control the government and more specifically the military of Sudan. The leaders of these forces, Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo (leader of the RSF), and General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (chief of the military) have a long and complex history, starting with both being allies of the deposed Sudanese dictator Omar Al-Bashir.
The current conflict stems from a decision by the Sudanese Armed Forces to subsume the Rapid Support Forces into the military eliminating the special designation and separation of the RSF. The decision to incorporate the RSF into the military was made by an agreement between the Sovereign Council a group of Sudanese civilians tasked with overseeing the transition to democracy, the RSF, and the Sudanese Armed Forces; however, as the time of incorporation neared the RSF refused and already existing tensions began to enflame.
Most of the fighting has occurred in the country’s capital city, Khartoum, and surrounding areas, where civilians have been displaced from their homes, and subject to collateral and direct damage by the warring factions. Homes destroyed, civilians bombed, gun shells, rapping, and the killing of civilians and non-military personnel have plagued Sudan during this conflict.
This conflict is deflating and disappointing but all too common within the region, and the African continent. Two military leaders vying for control over a country that wants democracy, and civilian-self-government is at the mercy of the egos of these two men, who both swear they support Sudanese democracy.
However, the real victims in this conflict are the 1,136 dead civilians, their families, and the millions displaced throughout the country, especially within the Darfur region of the country. Additionally, the country’s aspirations for democracy have been severely stymied, if not obstructed for the foreseeable future.
Solutions?
There is no single solution to ending the Sudanese conflict and ensuring sustainable peace. Furthermore, the importance of a stable East Africa must be a priority for Africa itself, and the international community for any lasting peace to thrive.
The international community must take responsibility for its hand in propping up military dictatorships and hindering democratic progress.
Moreover, humanitarian aid must continue to be distributed to the people of Sudan, who are the real victims of this conflict.
Additionally, the African Union, Egypt, and Ethiopia must consider how important African continental self-determination is to them, and create a comprehensive plan to intervene diplomatically to bring the two warring groups to the negotiating table, and institute civic and economic infrastructure to foster lasting civilian-democratic institutions.
Alas, these two leaders and their forces must be investigated for crimes against humanity and potential war crimes. We cannot allow military or civilian leaders to maim, kill and harm innocent women, men, and children and get away with it. An International Criminal Court investigation must commence, as well as an African Court of Human and Peoples Rights inquiry.
I pray for and with the people of Sudan for lasting peace, and an end to the conflict. Moreover, I will actively work to inform and advocate for international accountability for the powerful, and the protection of human rights, especially for members of the African diaspora.
As Lauryn Hill sang in Nas’s 1996 song “If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)”:
“If I ruled the world (imagine that)
I’d free all my sons, I love ’em, love ’em, baby
Black diamonds and pearls
(Could it be, if you could be mine, we’d both shine)
If I ruled the world
(Still livin’ for today, in these last days and times)”
[1]: About the Author: Ian Courts is a young millennial attorney with expertise and a passion for American and international law and politics. Ian received his BA in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2017, in 2020 he received his J.D. from North Carolina Central University School of Law, and in 2022 Ian received his LLM in International Criminal Law and Justice from the University of New Hampshire School of Law. Ian lives in Philadelphia where he is an appellate lawyer and the proud fur-dad of two American Cocker Spaniels.
