The United Nations Secretary-General has issued a stark warning that the devastating civil war in Sudan is descending into uncontrollable chaos, with no end to the bloodshed in sight.
Speaking at an international summit, the UN leader described the situation as a “nightmare of violence” that is “spiraling out of control.” He highlighted the city of El Fasher in the Darfur region as a particular epicenter of suffering, where a recent military offensive has trapped hundreds of thousands of civilians under siege, leading to deaths from malnutrition, disease, and direct attacks.
The conflict, now in its third year, pits the national Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The fighting has unleashed one of the world’s most severe humanitarian disasters, claiming over 150,000 lives and displacing more than 14 million people. International prosecutors are now gathering evidence of alleged mass killings and other atrocities in El Fasher.
Diplomatic efforts to halt the war face significant hurdles. A proposed ceasefire plan, backed by the United States and several regional powers, is meeting with resistance. Military leaders from the SAF are reportedly skeptical, with some insisting that any truce must be preconditioned on the RSF withdrawing from urban centers it now controls.
The fall of El Fasher last week handed the RSF control of all five major state capitals in Darfur, fueling fears of a de facto partition of Sudan. However, Sudanese officials have dismissed support for such an outcome within the region itself, arguing that the immediate priority must be stopping ongoing massacres rather than discussing political frameworks.
One senior diplomat has called for the RSF to be designated a terrorist organization and for an arms embargo on its alleged foreign backers—a charge those nations deny. He accused the paramilitary force of openly vowing further violence against specific communities and proudly documenting the murder of civilians.
“Before we can discuss proposals, the international community must show seriousness in dealing with these atrocities,” the diplomat stated. “The priority now must be to stop this kind of genocide.”
As the war grinds on, the gap between diplomatic talks and the grim reality on the ground appears to be widening, with little indication that either side is prepared to step back from the brink.