Sudanese citizens have held demonstrations across the country since the military coup led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan on October 25th. Sudanese security officials have responded brutally to the protests, using tear gas and live ammunition. Overall, the security officials’ response to the pretests has resulted in the deaths of over 60 Sudanese citizens so far, according to Haaretz.

The October coup overthrew the joint-civilian military government led by Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok that had been in place since the 2019 coup that overthrew President Omar al-Bashir. This joint government system was designed as a provisional arrangement to be in place until the 2023 democratic elections, promoting a peaceful transition of power. However, the recent coup represents a concerted effort by the Sudanese military to re-consolidate its political power. In November, PM Hamdok was reinstated following a deal with General al-Burhan. However, as of about two weeks ago, Hamdok resigned from his position, citing the ongoing economic crisis and fragmentation amongst leaders as reasons for his resignation, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Following the military takeover, internet access and phone lines across the country were largely blocked, indicating a military-backed attempt to censor media coverage inside the country. General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan claimed that online media was responsible for “instigating sedition,” according to Al Jazeera. In most modern revolutions, various social media platforms have served as a vital tool in mobilizing protesters. Conversely, it has therefore represented an ongoing threat to the power-holding institution. This also occurred following the 2019 coup in Sudan, during which the military blocked access to social media sites to cripple citizens’ mobilization capabilities. During this period, Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp were accessed through a virtual private network (VPN), making it possible for activists to document the protests and their aftermaths.

However, as Reuters has reported, many Sudanese citizens were unaware that this option existed. While a Sudanese court has since ordered the restoration of these connections, there is still much to be said about the state-backed efforts to stop the dissemination of information. For example, the Middle East Monitor reported on the detention of Al Jazeera’s bureau chief in Khartoum, El Musalmi El Kabbashi. El Kabbashi was detained for two nights before being released on November 16th. The media censorship marks another unfortunate setback for Sudan in its strides towards democracy since the overthrow of Sudanese leader Omar al-Bashir in 2019.

By decreasing the visibility of the situation on the ground, the military aims to control the narrative. However, activists documenting the abuse of power during these protests enable transparency into the reality of civil discontent. Al Jazeera correspondents maintain that the sentiments surrounding these protests cause many to suspect that the civil population will continue demonstrating on a massive level until something is done about the current administration.

Documenting these protests assumes that activists are appealing to the international community for outside help. Beyond the current power struggles, Sudan is also facing one of the worst humanitarian crises of our time. Of the 46.7 million population, approximately 9.8 million are described as “food insecure,” according to the UN World Food Programme (WFP). The harsh realities of this food crisis were brought into the headlines once again when In December, AP News reported that the United Nation’s World Food Program (WFP) planned to cease its operations in the North Darfur province of Sudan. This decision followed a series of attacks on the WFP’s three food warehouses in the province, resulting in the theft of over 5,000 metric tons of food that was supposed to serve approximately 2 million Sudanese people.

WFP halted its operations for almost three weeks because it could not divert resources from other regions without causing similar shortages in those locations. According to AP, Sudan currently has more than 11 million people who rely on some form of economic or food assistance every year. Therefore, the WFP’s decision to suspend its programming in North Darfur severely impacts the country’s ongoing food crisis. While these operations have not officially resumed, the state-owned SUNA news agency recently reported that WFP plans to resume operations in North Darfur.

Sudan’s ongoing political turmoil has begun to overlap with the health crisis posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. France 24 reported on the victimization of health workers at the hands of the Sudanese security officials. Houda Ahmed told AFP, “During every protest, they (security forces) fire tear gas inside the hospital where I work…They even attack us inside the intensive care unit.” The WHO also reports the coordinated efforts to block ambulance drivers and medical personnel from responding to injured protesters.

In the U.S. State Department’s Press Briefing, spokesman Ned Price announced, “The United States is pausing assistance from the $700 million in emergency assistance appropriations of Economic Support Funds for Sudan. Those funds were intended to support the country’s democratic transition as we evaluate the next step for Sudan programming.” Despite this, U.S. humanitarian assistance projects in Sudan will continue to receive funding. USAID estimates that 14.3 million people will require humanitarian assistance this year. The World Health Organization reports that nearly 94 percent of the Sudanese population remains unvaccinated. Additionally, over 60 percent of the country’s health workers tested positive for Covid-19 at some point in 2021. However, despite these metrics, the CDC maintains that the true reality of the Covid-19 situation in Sudan is largely unknown, making the pro-democracy protests a grave health concern.

With the myriad of harsh realities that Sudanese citizens continue to face, it has become increasingly vital for the international community to react. Recently appointed U.S. Special Envoy to the Horn of Africa envoy David Satterfield is set to meet with the Friends of Sudan to garner support for the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission to Sudan (UNITAMS), which is currently in its first week of consultations. He will also meet with some pro-democracy protesters, including political figures, members of women and youth organizations, and those from current human rights campaigns in the country, according to a press release by the U.S. State Department on January 14th.

International diplomatic efforts and Sudanese stakeholders can be commended on their willingness to end the political crisis promptly. However, in order to bring the Sudanese military into negotiations, the violence perpetrated by security officials must come to an end. Beyond the physical atrocities that their abuse of power has caused, it has also reopened a sense of distrust in Sudanese civil society for its government. While political stability and public safety remain the highest priorities for many Sudanese groups, many human rights groups demand legal accountability for the breach of international law by the Sudanese military and its continued brutalization of Sudanese citizens.

Sudan’s ongoing political, economic, and health crises represent salient humanitarian issues that demand international attention and assistance. Political talks must be resolved to begin the next transitional period of governance. By assuring proper oversight of UNITAMS objectives, leaders can rest assured that foreign assistance is adequately allocated for the necessary resources. However, it is also of the utmost importance that international eyes do not close once peace talks conclude. Sudan’s health and food insecurity levels continue to rise, especially in the wake of the coup. Therefore, world leaders and aid organizations must continue their work together to create sustainable health and economic infrastructure throughout Sudan well beyond the conclusion of diplomatic talks.