Sudan's Rapid Support Forces and the Future

 The International Crisis Group posted on 24 July 2025 a 32-minute podcast titled "What Does Sudan's RSF Want?" with Alan Boswell and Sarra Majdoub, Sudan analyst.

Khartoum became a liability for the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) where it lacked local support.  Supply chains and recruiting became difficult and the RSF decided to pull out of the capital.  Fighting between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and RSF has shifted to Kordofan and northern Darfur where the RSF is still a threat but does not have full control.  The RSF is fighting to stay politically relevant.

The RSF is comprised of many different ethnic groups, which creates the possibility for internal divisions.  It recently aligned with the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North and may be preparing to establish a separate government in Western Sudan.  This could lead to a permanent state or only serve as a way to bargain with the SAF.

The RSF conducted drone strikes on the SAF in Port Sudan and elsewhere because it lost Khartoum and wants to send the message that it can reach the SAF anywhere.  The RSF's supply chain in Darfur is challenging but it receives requirements through Chad, southern Libya, and by air bridge to Nyala.  The RSF connection with the UAE is well known but Abu Dhabi is probably not in a position to dictate the RSF's future.  The RSF wants to be treated as an equal partner in Sudan.   

No National Security Justification for Dismantlement of USAID

 The July/August 2025 issue of the Foreign Service Journal contains an article titled "USAID Is Vanishing" by Jim Bever, 35-year veteran of USAID.  

This is an account by a former USAID mission director (4 times) on the impact of dismantling the US foreign aid organization.  He emphasizes that no national security strategy has been offered to explain or justify this decision.  

USAID Cuts Resulting in Deaths in Sudan

 The Washington Post published on 29 June 2025 an article titled "In Sudan, Where Children Clung to Life, Doctors Say USAID Cuts Have Been Fatal" by Katharine Houreld.  

Following the dismantlement of USAID and cuts in support for community soup kitchens and the end of critical medical supplies in Sudan, more Sudanese are dying.  The World Health Organization estimates that 5 million Sudanese may lose access to lifesaving health services as a result of the US cuts.  

Has US Given Up on Preventing Wars in Horn of Africa?

 The New York Times published on 9 May 2025 a commentary titled "The Wars We Still Can Stop" by Cameron Hudson, Center for Strategic and International Studies.

As the Trump administration steps back from the Horn of Africa and guts existing diplomacy tools, it raises the question whether Washington has abdicated its peacemaking role in the region.  The author asks, "how many American warriors do we intend to commit to wars we could have stopped before they started?"

Dried-up Aid Pulls Sudan Further into Chaos

 The Council on Foreign Relations published on 14 April 2025 a commentary titled "A Third Year of War: Dried-Up Aid Pulls Sudan Further into Chaos" by Mariel Ferragamo.

People are dying more of hunger and disease in Sudan than bullets.  The health care system is collapsing.  The dismantlement of USAID was followed by the shutting down of 80 percent of the local emergency kitchens.  Other donors have also cut back on aid to Sudan.  

Sudan Is Now World's Largest Humanitarian Crisis

 The Associated Press published on 10 April 2025 an article titled "Sudan Faces the World's Worst Humanitarian Crisis as Second Anniversary of War Nears, UN Says" by Edith M. Lederer.  

The World Food Program's emergency coordinator for Sudan reports that half of Sudan's 25 million people face extreme hunger after two years of war, making it the world's largest humanitarian crisis.  

Congress Has a Choice on Sudan

 Foreign Policy published on 31 March 2025 a commentary titled "Congress Has a Choice on Sudan" by Gregory W. Meeks, ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.  

The Trump administration cancelled emergency aid for Sudan on 26 February.  The author, the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, is calling on Congress to resume humanitarian aid to Sudan, among other steps for dealing with the catastrophe.

The Political Case for USAID

 The Hill published on 19 March 2025 a commentary titled "The Challenging but Compelling Political Case for USAID" by J. Brian Attwood, USAID administrator in the Clinton administration.  

The author makes the domestic and international case for retaining the US Agency for International Development while acknowledging that it is a hard sell for many Americans who do not understand why the United States spends tax dollars on foreigners.  

Starvation as a Weapon of War: Lessons from Ethiopia's Tigray Conflict

 Stimson published on 24 February 2025 a study titled "Preventing Starvation Crimes: Lessons Learned from Tigray" by Shane Goetz.

The international community failed to prevent mass starvation during Ethiopia's civil war centered in Tigray Region in spite of a UN Security Council resolution designed to avoid this situation.  The study concludes that the resolution lacks the tools to generate preventative action and early response to conflict-induced hunger crises or to hold parties accountable for the use of starvation as a method of warfare.

Dismantle USAID and Make Famine More Likely

 The International Crisis Group published on 28 February 2025 a commentary titled "U.S. Aid Cuts Make Famine More Likely and Easier to Hide" with contributions by Chris Newton and Delaney Simon.  

The Trump administration has put a 90-day hold on most U.S. foreign aid, with devastating effects on the system built over decades for preventing famine.  The result may be more and deadlier famine, with greater impunity for parties using starvation as a weapon of war.

The dismantling of USAID represents more than just a retreat in foreign assistance.  It threatens infrastructure built over decades that, among other things, has served as a means of mitigating the most brutal effects of conflict.  

Increasing Famine and Food Insecurity in Sudan

 The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification published on 24 December 2024 a report titled "Sudan: Acute Food Insecurity Snapshot."

Twenty months into the conflict, Sudan continues to slide into a widening famine crisis characterized by widespread starvation and a significant surge in acute malnutrition.  The situation marks a widening of the food and nutrition crisis, driven by the devastating conflict, which has triggered mass displacement, a collapsing economy, the breakdown of essential social services, and severe societal disruption, combined with poor humanitarian access, food insecurity and malnutrition.  

Aljazeera Discussion of Almost Hopeless Situation in Sudan

 Aljazeera's Inside Story posted on 21 December 2024 a 27-minute video titled "Is the US Willing to Take Action against Foreign Powers Fuelling the Sudan War?' with Alex de Waal, World Peace Foundation, Dalia Abdelmoniem, Sudanese political analyst, and Khalood Khair, Confluence Advisory.  

The panel concluded that both the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), but especially the RSF, are engaging in war crimes.  The United Nations and African Union efforts to end the civil war have failed dismally.  Russia and the UAE have played especially unhelpful roles.  There is little hope for a diplomatic solution, and it is too late for the Biden administration to make a difference.

Somalia: Limitations of Social Assistance

 The Institute of Development Studies Bulletin published on 28 October 2024 a study titled "Can Social Assistance Strengthen the Social Contract in Somalia?" by Julie Lawson McDowall and Ruby D. Khan.

The study challenges the view that externally funded and designed social assistance programming in Somalia might help renew the social contract between the government and Somali nationals.  For many living outside Mogadishu, the federal government is irrelevant or predatory, and other local forms of authority are more important with existing elite bargains likely to reinforce existing societal fractures.  On the other hand, social assistance has the potential to make a small contribution if there is thoughtful design, greater inclusion, and long-term donor commitment.  

One-third of Sudan's Population Has Deen Displaced

 The Associated Press published on 29 October 2024 an article titled "Sudan Has Displaced over 14 Million, or about 30% of the Population, UN Says."  

The International Organization for Migration says the civil war in Sudan has displaced about 30 percent of the population since conflict broke out more than a year ago.  Some 11 million people are internally displaced and 3.1 million are refugees in neighboring countries, making Sudan the world's largest displacement crisis.  

Sudan: Are We Not Humans?

 The New York Times published on 12 October 2024 a commentary titled "'Are We Not Humans?'" by Nicholas Kristof.

Kristof recently visited the Chad-Sudan border area and wrote about the ongoing tragedy in Sudan.  This is a follow up commentary in which he responds to questions from readers about what can be done to improve the situation.  

Sudanese Soldiers Target Volunteer Community Kitchens

 Reuters published on 8 October 2024 an article titled "Sudan's Warring Sides Target Local Aid Volunteers Fighting Famine" by Nafisa Eltahir and Khalid Abdelaziz.

The article documents repeated attacks on community kitchens operated by volunteers dedicated to feeding hungry Sudanese in a war zone.  Soldiers from both the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the Sudan Armed Forces have attacked the volunteers, forcing some of them to shut down their kitchens or even leave Sudan.  

Photo Essay on Sudan's Humanitarian Crisis

 The Council on Foreign Relations posted on 19 September 2024 a photo essay titled "Crisis in Sudan, War, Famine, and a Failing Global Response" by Mariel Ferragamo and Sabine Baumgartner.

Making widespread use of photos and maps, the article describes a failing aid response and unsuccessful peace process in efforts to end the tragedy in Sudan.

The Challenge of Declaring Famine in Sudan

 The Center for Strategic and International Studies published on 11 September 2024 a question and answer titled "Conflict, Hunger, and Famine in Sudan" with Zane Swanson, Anita Kirschenbaum, and Caitlin Welsh.  

This piece discusses the challenges of making a formal declaration of famine in Sudan, which must come from an independent state or international body, like the United Nations.

The Economist Calls on the World to Focus on Sudan

 The Economist published on 29 August 2024 a commentary titled "Why Sudan's Catastrophic War Is the World's Problem."

Sudan is now the world's worst humanitarian disaster and a geopolitical time-bomb.  The world has responded to Sudan's war with neglect and fatalism.  It is a grave mistake for the world to ignore Sudan.  It will take decades to repair Sudan, but it is time for the world to act.

The Difficulty of Declaring Famine in Sudan

 National Public Radio published on 21 August 2024 an article titled "Yes There Is Famine in Sudan.  So Why Isn't 'Famine' Being Declared?" by Fatma Tanis.

The article explains why it is so difficult to declare officially that a famine has occurred.