“All persons who do not take a direct part or who have ceased to take part in hostilities, whether or not their liberty has been restricted, are entitled to respect for their person, honour, convictions, and religious practices. They shall in all circumstances be treated humanely, without any adverse distinction. It is prohibited to order that there shall be no survivors.” 

So why, then, are civilians in Sudan continuing to endure dehumanising conditions? These range from severe hunger and displacement to sexual violence and summary executions.

As a result of the war – recently described by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights as an “unfolding catastrophe” – suffering is being normalised, necessitating urgent international action.

“Civilians have been subjected to siege-like conditions for 18 months, battered by relentless drone strikes, as the Sudanese armed forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) battle for control,” says Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

He highlights the series of grave atrocities reported in al-Obeid, the North Kordofan state capital, where about 15 drone strikes killed 45 civilians and injured 41 in the month of June alone, noting that the actual number of casualties is likely higher.

The conflict, which began in 2023, is a vicious power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary RSF. It broke out after the fall of the country’s former leader, Omar al-Bashir. It has displaced over 9 million people from their homes, setting up the world’s worst humanitarian crisis – driven by two extreme sides, both unwilling to heed calls for accountability.

In 2025, nearly 250,000 civilians, half of them children, were subjected to prolonged starvation in Sudan’s North Darfur city of al-Fashir during an RSF siege. Thousands of grave human rights violations were documented.

“RSF and allied Arab militia carried out widespread attacks, including mass killings and summary executions, sexual violence, abductions for ransom, torture and ill-treatment, detention, disappearances, pillage and the use of children in hostilities. In many cases, attacks were directed against civilians and persons hors de combat based on their ethnicity or perceived affiliation,” a UN report concluded.

These events reveal a deeply saddening pattern of profound human suffering, but what’s more concerning is its reckless continuity, with no end in sight.

In a world where the law is becoming increasingly sidelined by the interests and egos of individuals, there is a need for deeper reflection. The international community must unite to defend the principles of justice for the victims, relentlessly seek accountability and advocate for peaceful resolution to the Sudan conflict.

The African Union and other continental players should be supported to lead mediation and humanitarian efforts. African solutions must be prioritised because they best understand the conflict’s many dimensions.

“External actors often simplify complex crises by supporting one side without fully acknowledging the diversity of political forces at play. This approach tends to overlook the nuanced, multifaceted nature of the situation, which involves various stakeholders with different interests, ideologies and goals. As a result, the complexity of the conflict is ignored, and a one-dimensional perspective can lead to ineffective or misguided interventions,” analysts argue.

In the same vein, and to counter the simplification, the Sudan situation must receive the media attention it deserves. This could help draw more global support. All conflicts deserve equal urgency, regardless of where they occur or whose interests they serve. The article solely represents the views of Simpson Muhwezi, a Ugandan freelance writer and development practitioner.

He described recent developments as a turning point in Darfur, claiming “the entirety of Darfurian territory” was now under the control of the Sudan Founding Alliance (Tasis), following what he called the defeat of the “terrorist Islamic Movement's Army and its allied mercenary movements.”

Addressing reports of atrocities during the battle for El Fasher, where the United Nations says more than 1,350 civilians were killed, Al-Taishi said his government would conduct a “fair and transparent investigation” into all violations. He insisted that abuses were “isolated acts” and that those responsible would be held to account.

Al-Taishi also urged Sudanese citizens, particularly Darfur residents, to participate in community-led efforts to rebuild El Fasher.

His remarks came days after RSF chief Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo declared control over the city, describing it as a “strategic shift” in the ongoing conflict .

The RSF announced control of El Fasher on Sunday after intense battles with the Sudanese army. RSF leader and Sudan’s Founding Council Chair Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo described the capture as a “strategic shift in the war ” and “a change in favour of Sudan’s unity.”

Dagalo also said a committee would be formed to investigate reported violations during the fighting, following media reports of mass killings. The UN has said more than 1,350 civilians were killed in El Fasher.

Meanwhile, Sudan’s army chief and de facto ruler, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, insisted his forces remained capable of reversing the situation, vowing to “protect Sudan, its sovereignty, and the stability of its people regardless of the challenges.”

Sudan has been engulfed in conflict since fighting erupted between the army and the RSF in April 2023. More than 20,000 people have been killed and 33,000 injured, while around 12 million have been displaced. Over 25.6 million Sudanese are now facing severe food insecurity, according to UN figures.