Famine is on the brink in parts of Darfur, forcing thousands to flee their homes and livelihoods, while attempts at negotiations between the warring factions remain at a standstill.

The government, led by army commander Lieutenant General Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan, announced it would send a delegation to Cairo to discuss implementing the Jeddah Agreement signed between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF. However, no specific date has been provided.

In a statement shared on its official social media channels, the Sovereignty Council, which serves as Sudan's head of state, said: "Based on contact with the US government, represented by the US envoy to Sudan, Tom Perriello, and a request from the Egyptian government for a meeting with a government delegation in Cairo to discuss the implementation of the Jeddah Declaration, the government will send a delegation to Cairo for this purpose."

The agreement, signed on 11 May 2023, outlines commitments by both sides, including protecting civilians and safeguarding public and private infrastructure from military use. Both factions have since traded accusations of failing to uphold these terms.

This announcement follows the Sudanese army's boycott of US-led peace talks in Geneva on 14 August, which included participation from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, and the African Union. The RSF delegation did attend the discussions.

The conflict, pitting the Sudanese Armed Forces under Burhan against the RSF, led by Mohamed Dagalo (known as "Hemeti"), began in April 2023. The RSF traces its origins back to a 2013 directive by former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who created the force as a paramilitary unit under his command, separate from the national army. The RSF largely comprises camel-herding tribes, historically referred to as the "Janjaweed"—militias that Bashir deployed to suppress farmer-led uprisings in Darfur.

During the Darfur War (2003-2010), the Janjaweed were accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity, leading to the International Criminal Court issuing warrants against Bashir and several Janjaweed leaders in 2009.

The Latest Sudan War
 

The current conflict, which began on 15 April 2023, has claimed tens of thousands of civilian lives and displaced about 10 million people, forcing many to abandon their livelihoods. Over 2 million have fled to neighbouring countries.

However, casualty figures remain disputed. According to UN reports from early August, the death toll is around 18,800, a figure that has been contested by Sudanese parties, who believe the actual number is far higher. A UN report, cited by Reuters in January, estimated that between 12,000 and 15,000 people were killed in El Geneina, West Darfur, between April and June 2023.

In mid-May, the Sudanese Doctors Syndicate reported that the death toll had reached 30,000, with 70,000 injured. The syndicate also acknowledged that these figures might be underestimates. The syndicate added that 21 hospitals were bombed, while 22 others were forcibly evacuated.

Economic losses due to the conflict are estimated at no less than $120 billion, equivalent to Sudan’s budget for 12 years. A report by the International Rescue Committee on 25 June indicated that the death toll could be as high as 150,000. The US Special Envoy to Sudan, Tom Perriello, cited similar estimates.

Consequences of the War
 

The humanitarian situation in Sudan is rapidly deteriorating. According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, more than 25.6 million people—over half the country’s population—are facing severe hunger, with over 750,000 on the brink of starvation. In early August, experts confirmed that famine in the Zamzam camp for displaced persons in North Darfur had 'escalated into a full-fledged crisis.' Relief organisations warn that if the famine expands, it could become the largest globally, necessitating significant international funding.

Meanwhile, eastern Sudan is grappling with a cholera outbreak. Health authorities in Kassala and Gedaref states, where the disease is most prevalent, have intensified containment efforts. On Sunday, Sudan’s Health Minister, Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim, reported that 354 cholera cases have been confirmed, with 22 fatalities.

Adding to the turmoil, heavy rains in northern Sudan have flooded numerous villages and destroyed hundreds of homes, overwhelming local relief capacities.

Amid these compounding crises, the international community and regional powers face mounting pressure to push for a resolution to the conflict that has devastated the Sudanese population and threatens to destabilise neighbouring countries. The need for international intervention is more pressing than ever.