You’ve Heard About the War in Gaza, But Have You Heard About Sudan?

Images of destroyed neighbourhoods and starving families have captured worldwide attention, making Gaza one of the most reported conflicts of recent years. Yet while many people know about Gaza, far fewer have heard about Sudan.

Sudan, a country in northeast Africa, has been torn apart by civil war since April 2023. Fighting between the national army and a powerful paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has spread across the country. The conflict has killed an estimated 150,000 people and forced more than 13 million from their homes.

Satellite images analysed by Yale University’s Humanitarian Research Lab suggest the RSF disposed of tens of thousands of bodies and attempted to conceal evidence of mass killings following major battles. Researchers say the violence is so extreme that the satellite images show blood visible from space as bodies pile up. 

The United Nations has described the conflict as the world’s worst humanitarian disaster. Sudan’s military government has accused the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of supplying weapons to the RSF and has filed a case at the International Court of Justice. The UAE has denied the allegations, saying it has not supported either side in the conflict.