The Sudanese Armed Forces (S.A.F.) have recaptured Sudan’s capital of Khartoum in the ongoing Sudanese civil war against the Rapid Support Forces (R.S.F.). The R.S.F’s leader, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, or Hemedti, conceded that his forces left the capital last week through a Telegram app audio message, according to Al Jazeera. In this message, Hemedti pledged to return to the capital “stronger, more powerful and victorious” and that the move to withdraw was a “tactical decision made by the leadership.” The withdrawal of R.S.F. forces underscores a nearly three-year-long, brutal civil war that has claimed the lives of more than 150,000 people, has displaced over 11.5 million more, and has seen more than half of Sudan’s population face crisis-level hunger conditions in 2024. This is the third civil war to occur in Sudan’s post-colonial history. 

The country had hopes for democracy and peace – a democracy that started in 2019 after the toppling of the country’s leader of three decades, President Omar Hassan al-Bashir. President al-Bashir seized power in a 1989 coup after he served in the Egyptian military and later as an officer in the Sudanese Armed Forces. During al-Bashir’s presidency, the Second Sudanese Civil War occurred, in which South Sudan gained its independence. Additionally, the Darfur war began in 2003 and was later recognized by the United States as a genocide, primarily targeting non-Arab populations such as the Masalit, Zaghawa, and Fur peoples in Western Sudan. Al-Bashir’s reign also saw the deployment of morality police in Sudan to enforce al-Bashir’s laws; he persecuted Shiism, Sunni apostasy, Christianity, and various other minority religious groups’ activities. This genocide occurred between 2003 and 2005, killing an estimated 300,000 people.

The current civil war began as a feud between two generals. After the successful toppling of al-Bashir, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan of the S.A.F. and Hemedti of the R.S.F. led a Transitional Sovereignty Council, with Burhan as the leader and Hemedti as his deputy. On the other hand, the civilian-chosen Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, an economist and development expert, attempted to solve the extreme economic turmoil and bring stability within Sudan. General al-Burhan and Hemedti then ousted Prime Minister Hamdok through a coup in October 2021. In November 2021, he was briefly reinstated after conceding some power to al-Burhan and Hemedti, however, he resigned in January 2022 after protestors were not satisfied with the terms of his reinstatement. 

The people of Sudan have unquestionably suffered the most as a result of this conflict. They have been victimized in several devastating atrocities, clearly documented by various NGOs. The R.S.F.’s attacks in Ardamata, a town in western Darfur, have shown the new surge of ethnically driven killings. The primary targets of these attacks are the Masalit people, evoking painful memories of the Darfur war. In 2023, the R.S.F. and its allies killed between 10 to 15 thousand people due to ethnic violence in West Darfur, according to a statement by the United Nations. There must be a global push for a ceasefire to prevent further suffering of the people of Sudan and put a stop to atrocities that continue the pain inflicted during the Darfur war. 

Earlier last year, there was hope for ceasefire talks of the ongoing civil war. On March 8th, 2024, the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire. The S.A.F. agreed to indirect negotiations, which were to be mediated by Libya and Turkey. Talks broke down on March 11th after a top S.A.F General rejected the ceasefire unless the R.S.F. withdrew their forces from civilian sites, according to the Council of Foreign Relations. The future remains uncertain for Sudan with the thirst for revenge and recapture by the R.S.F., which undermines any remaining appetite for peace. The fall of Khartoum does present a possible vital turning point to the war as it may be an opportunity to reignite ceasefire negotiations. To build a better future for Sudan and to improve the lives of millions, the rest of the world must not remain silent in the face of suffering and should seize the chance to advocate for lasting peace in Sudan.