The Sudan Story

Hold onto your hats folks, because what's happening in Sudan right now is nothing short of a high-stakes power struggle between two men with big ambitions and even bigger egos. On one side, we have General Abdel Fattah al Burhan, who's been quietly taking over the country one piece at a time, while on the other, we have Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, aka Hemeti, the leader of the Rapid Support Forces, RSF, a militia group that's as powerful as it is dangerous and controls a significant part of Sudan's economy, particularly the gold mines.

Hemeti has been content to control a large part of Sudan's economy, but lately, he's been eyeing a bigger prize: ultimate power. And with General al Burhan looking like a man who's trying to become a dictator for life, which has rubbed many people negatively standing in his way, it seems that Hemeti is willing to stop at nothing to achieve his goal. Think Game of Thrones, but without the dragons (or at least, not yet).

The RSF grew out of the Janjaweed militia, which was raised to suppress an uprising in Darfur that turned into a bloody war in the 2000s. Hemeti was one of the commanders of the Janjaweed militia, and in 2013, then-dictator Omar Bashir reformed the group and made Hemeti a lieutenant general, answerable directly to himself.

In 2019, a pro-democracy uprising erupted in Khartoum, and Hemeti did a deal with General Abdel Fattah al Burhan. Together, they arrested Bashir and proclaimed a revolution. Both Hemeti and General Burhan obtained influential positions in the transitional government, and in 2021, they staged a coup and put themselves in charge of the country.

The immediate trigger for the current conflict was the discussion of security sector reform, specifically how to get the army out of politics and defund the RSF. General Burhan wanted the RSF to be folded into the regular armed forces within two years, while Hemeti insisted it would take ten. As tensions escalated, troops began to move around Khartoum, and overnight, the fighting began.

Russia's mercenary group Wagner is known to be doing business with Hemeti's RSF providing security for a gold mine in Sudan, but General Burhan has also done deals with the Russians. It's hard to say which side has the upper hand or whether they have backing from outside players. In any case, the situation in Sudan is grim, and it's unclear who will emerge victorious in the power struggle between these two men.

The situation in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, is nothing short of dire, with reports of widespread violence, looting, and chaos. The country has been embroiled in a political crisis since the ousting of longtime dictator Omar al-Bashir in 2019. The transitional government that followed has been plagued by economic challenges, political instability, and ethnic tensions, which have led to a rise in violence across the country.

Reports of mass shootings, buildings being taken over, and sexual violence have been particularly alarming, and the situation seems to be deteriorating rapidly. Reports of rape and sexual violence have sparked outrage both within Sudan and internationally, as many fear that the situation may escalate into a full-blown humanitarian crisis.

The violence in Sudan has also triggered a struggle for influence among different countries, with international diplomacy ongoing. Regional powers such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates have been accused of backing the transitional government, while Russia, China, and Turkey have shown support for the opposition. The United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union have called for a peaceful resolution to the crisis, but their ability to influence events on the ground remains limited.

Amid the chaos and violence, civilians in Sudan are facing immense challenges, with many forced to flee their homes and seek refuge in overcrowded camps. The humanitarian situation in the country is dire, with shortages of food, medicine, and other essential supplies, and the risk of disease outbreaks looms large.

In conclusion, the situation in Khartoum and Sudan as a whole is alarming, with reports of violence, sexual violence, and looting spreading across the country. The ongoing struggle for influence among different countries only adds to the complexity of the situation, and there are fears that the crisis may escalate into a full-blown humanitarian disaster. It is imperative that the international community comes together to find a peaceful resolution to the crisis and provide much-needed assistance to the people of Sudan.

With tensions running high and both men unwilling to back down, it's anyone's guess how this showdown will end. One thing's for sure, though: it's going to be a battle to the bitter end, and the fate of Sudan hangs in the balance. So grab some popcorn and settle in, because this is one political drama you won't want to miss.