Is Sudan being ripped in two? | DW News

Key Concepts

• RSF (Rapid Support Forces) seizing control of Zamzam camp.
• Humanitarian crisis in Sudan: deaths, displacement, famine, disease.
• Failed international efforts to stop the war.
• Potential fragmentation of Sudan into two states.
• External actors fueling the conflict (UAE, Egypt, KSA).

RSF Seizure of Zamzam Camp and Humanitarian Impact

• The RSF released videos showing their fighters seizing control of the Zamzam camp for displaced people in North Darfur.
• Humanitarian groups are calling it a targeted attack on vulnerable civilians.
• The war in Sudan has entered its third year and has claimed over 150,000 lives.
• RSF fighters entered the Zamzam camp after a 4-day assault, celebrating their victory among the dead.
• The UN reports that at least 300 civilians were killed in the fighting, including 10 humanitarian aid workers operating one of the last functioning health centers.
• 400,000 people were displaced from this camp after the RSF seized control.
• The capital city of the Darfur region, El Fasher, has been under siege for 12 months, with shelling getting heavier.
• Sudan's war, which erupted in 2023, has killed tens of thousands, displaced 13 million, and triggered what the United Nations describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.
• Hundreds of people trapped by the fighting face hunger and starvation.
• Satellite images show trails of bodies of civilians from Zamzam camp who died from exhaustion, hunger, and thirst while trying to escape the RSF.
• One in three Sudanese refugees or internally displaced people are Sudanese, with over 15 million internally displaced and more than 3 million displaced externally.
• Famine has been reported in multiple areas, and diseases are spreading due to lack of infrastructure and poor crisis response.

Failed International Efforts and External Actors

• The international community failed to stop the war, particularly at a recent conference in London.
• The London conference aimed to bring support to the humanitarian situation and peace but was a "diplomatic flop."
• External backers of the war (UAE, Egypt, KSA) could not agree on a statement or create a contact group to address the conflict.
• The international order is no longer working on morality but on power bargains and deals with strong-arming weaker countries.

Potential Fragmentation of Sudan

• The RSF is reportedly forming a rival government to rule parts of the country it controls.
• This raises the nightmare scenario of Sudan breaking into two states, just 11 years after South Sudan split.
• Unlike the South Sudan split, which was negotiated, the current fragmentation is occurring through military means and bloodshed.
• Fragmentation through military solutions could create long-term instability and tension.
• If the RSF becomes a recognized government, it could import more deadly weapons, prolonging the war.

Humanitarian Catastrophe and Future Outlook

• Eight groups warned that the country's humanitarian catastrophe will only worsen, even if a peace treaty is signed.
• The humanitarian and emotional consequences will last for a long time.
• The crisis that began in the early days of the war has continued and is expected to worsen.
• The Sudanese people feel they have to continue fighting as there will be no help coming to their aid.

Notable Quotes

• RSF fighter: "God is great, they are dropping like flies, either we win or we die."
• Resident of El Fasher: "Everyone here has the feeling that we could die at any moment."
• Elbashir Idris: "The international community failed certainly just uh two days ago on the 15th when they held a conference in London."
• Elbashir Idris: "This is the nightmare scenario uh for many Sudin uh that they did not want to see their country split again."

Technical Terms and Concepts

• RSF (Rapid Support Forces): A Sudanese paramilitary group involved in the conflict.
• Internally Displaced People: Individuals who have been forced to leave their homes but remain within their country's borders.
• External Backers: Countries providing support (financial, military, or political) to the warring parties in Sudan (e.g., UAE, Egypt, KSA).
• Fragmentation: The breaking up of a country into smaller, independent states.

Logical Connections

The video connects the RSF's military actions (seizing Zamzam camp) to the broader humanitarian crisis in Sudan. It then links the failed international efforts to the potential fragmentation of the country, highlighting the role of external actors in fueling the conflict. The expert analysis provides context and explains the potential long-term consequences of the ongoing war.

Synthesis/Conclusion

The situation in Sudan is a dire humanitarian crisis exacerbated by internal conflict and external interference. The RSF's actions, such as seizing the Zamzam camp, contribute to widespread death, displacement, and suffering. Failed international efforts and the potential fragmentation of the country further compound the problem, leaving the Sudanese people feeling abandoned and facing a bleak future. The conflict's long-term consequences, including famine, disease, and emotional trauma, will persist even if a peace treaty is signed.