Sudan marked the grim three-year anniversary of its civil war on Wednesday, April 15, as the civilian population continues to bear the brunt of a conflict often mischaracterized by the international community. While global observers frequently frame the violence as a duel between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, many on the ground reject this simplified binary.
Political analyst Kholood Khair argues that focusing exclusively on the two generals leading the warring factions obscures the reality of the violence. She contends that the war functions as an intentional campaign against Sudan’s civilian population rather than a traditional military engagement.
This sentiment is echoed by researchers who have tracked the systematic destruction of infrastructure and livelihoods across the country. Hend Kheiralla, a researcher specializing in the region, notes that the impact on daily life suggests a strategy designed to displace and disenfranchise ordinary Sudanese people.
The human cost of a systemic conflict
For three years, the fighting has decimated urban centers and destroyed the social fabric of the nation. Civilians report that the terminology used by international media often ignores their lived experiences, reducing their suffering to a logistical dispute between military elites.
By framing the conflict as a struggle between two men, international stakeholders overlook the structural violence inherent in the war’s progression. Analysts point out that the RSF and the national army have both utilized tactics that prioritize territorial control through the terrorization of civilians rather than conventional battlefield victories.
As the conflict enters its fourth year, the disconnect between external reporting and local reality remains a point of contention. Sudanese activists are pushing for a narrative shift that centers the protection of the population over the political ambitions of military commanders. They argue that until the international community acknowledges the anti-civilian nature of the war, diplomatic efforts will fail to address the core of the crisis.
