June 1
SPOILED INSULIN: WAR DISRUPTS DRUG SUPPLIES, FUELLING
SMUGGLING. On a modest bed inside his war-battered home in Khartoum N, Murtada
Mohieddin, diabetic patient in his early 50s, carefully counts his remaining doses of
insulin. His search for medicine transformed into a harrowing battle not just to find
treatment but to ensure the medicine is not expired or ruined: “Sometimes the insulin is
spoiled. You wouldn’t know if it is ruined or expired. You can check the expiration date,
but it could still be damaged from poor storage.” The devastating conflict paralysed
domestic pharmaceutical production and collapsed vital supply chains….According
WHO Sudan represents the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, with 21m people lacking
healthcare services out of 34m needing aid. In the void left by closure of pharmaceutical
companies, smuggling networks flourished, flooding the market with unregulated
drugs….critical intravenous malaria medications smuggled across borders. Because they
completely bypass strict temperature controls and quality checks during transit, these are
frequently spoiled, rendering them either totally ineffective or lethally toxic. Inside local
pharmacies in Omdurman, the crisis is not just limited to scarcity. Patients now face the
double threat of exorbitant costs and life-threatening quality issues, as illicit medicines
are often severely spoiled due to a lack of proper storage and refrigeration. Mutawakil
Hamza, pharmacist, said reliance on unregulated channels is putting lives at immediate
risk: “Most malaria medicines are brought in through smuggling. These are…injections
for intravenous use,..highly dangerous to a patient’s health.” Because intravenous
treatments bypass the body’s defences and require absolute sterility, administering
improperly stored or degraded injections can rapidly cause severe bloodstream
infections, systemic shock or death.
The war dismantled local manufacturing, reversing years of medical self-reliance. Yasser
Ahmed Youssef, pharmaceutical industry expert, noted the stark contrast to the pre-war
era, when local factories managed to produce “very large quantities of life-saving
medicines….for blood pressure, diabetes, colds and paediatric care.” Now, the majority
of production lines are silent. 40% of health facilities are entirely nonoperational. The
situation is even more drastic regionally, with 87% of facilities shut down in Khartoum
and 85% closed in N Kordofan…In active conflict zones Gezira, Khartoum, Darfur and
Kordofan, shortages are particularly dire. A UNFPA emergency report highlighted the
only functioning maternity hospital in…el-Fasher faces critical medicine shortages and
closure. Natl Medical Supplies Fund maintains it is working to secure essential
medicines despite the fighting, claiming 75% availability for cancer medications and
fully secured supplies for kidney patients. However, officials admit infrastructure is in
ruins, with local health ecosystem almost destroyed. “We have been massively affected
by the war…” Abubakar Salouha, dept dir. “The medical supplies have been severely
impacted; there has been a collapse at…main warehouses at hqs.” Intl aid deliveries from
neighbouring countries face enormous logistical hurdles. WHO’s analysis detailed
cross-border transit times for medical commodities can take 90 days to reach remote r
egions like Darfur.. Compounding suffocating delays, armed groups repeatedly targeted
medical infrastructure, looting pharmacies and stripping remaining hospitals of vital
medical supplies. Recent attacks highlight systematic destruction by rival sides. A drone
attack on Al-Daein Teaching Hosp in E Darfur state killed 64 people, including medical
personnel….Emergency Lawyers reported the army was behind the attack. A drone
attack struck Al-Jabalain Hosp in White Nile State, killing 10 staff members, including
the director…performing surgery. Family Hosp in el-Daein was looted, patients and
health workers assaulted and expelled. A hospital in Kurmuk, Blue Nile State, was
looted, equipment destroyed and patients forced out. RSF was blamed for these attacks.
“Sudan is confronting one of the gravest humanitarian and public health emergencies in
the world. The conflict pushed the health system to the edge of complete collapse,”
WHO Dir-Gen. “These are stark reminders of the urgent need for renewed intl solidarity
and decisive political and humanitarian action. Sudan cannot endure this crisis alone.”
May 30
PARAMILITARY TARGETING CIVILIANS IN AREA FREE OF MILITARY
PRESENCE DURING MAJOR MUSLIM HOLIDAY, killing 27 people, among them
elderly people. Sudan Doctors Network…blamed forces affiliated with RSF for carrying
out attacks on villages in al-Murrah in N Kordofan….worsened already “catastrophic
humanitarian conditions citizens are enduring due to the ongoing war.” Kordofan has
become one of the main epicenters, with fighting intensifying on several fronts,
including drone warfare. RSF and allies control west Darfur and areas in Kordofan along
the border with So Sudan rich in oil fields and gold mines. The attacks were carried out
during the 2nd day of Eid al-Adha Feast of Sacrifice, celebrated by millions of
Muslims….The doctors’ network said “targeting villages and civilian areas and
liquidating citizens in this horrific manner constitutes a flagrant violation of intl
humanitarian law.” Intense clashes in S Kordofan between forces linked to rebel group
SPLM-N and Otoro tribe killed 61 people. A drone strike on a bustling market in central
Sudan killed 28. Al Arabiya/AP
May 28
175 FARMERS IN ABRI, NORTHERN STATE FACE IMPRISONMENT FOR
DEFAULTING ON BANK LOANS, following failed winter harvest, blamed on
frequent power outages where farmers are dependent on electric power for agriculture
and livestock activities. Abri is experiencing anticipation and caution following a lull in
security tensions after recent unrest. The tensions stemmed from power outages and
peaceful protests by residents, prompting authorities to deploy forces…as well as forces
known as Abu Tira. Simultaneously, authorities have begun collecting weapons from
those mobilized and popular resistance committees. Local sources in Abri told Radio
Dabanga authorities have begun collecting weapons and vehicles belonging to the
mobilised forces as a precautionary measure, fearing they might side with the local
population, given their shared origins. Wide sectors of Resistance Comms and civil
society organisations condemned the police suppression of peaceful demonstrations in
Abri, firing tear gas, raiding residential neighbourhoods, pursuit of protesters inside
homes, assault on women and children, and arrest of large numbers of them. The
Resistance Comms…considered the attacks and violations against…the public who came
demanding their most basic rights as an attempt to intimidate them, stressing that it will
not break the will of the people, their movement is peaceful, and escalation will continue
until voices of the public are heard and their just demands met. Youth activist Fadel
Shibli believes power outages affect infants and newborns, as well as those with chronic
illnesses like diabetes, particularly in storing medications…. Furthermore, the soaring
price of a gas cylinder reached 1200 Egyptian pounds, forced families to rely on
electricity for cooking. …govt of Northern State was relying on electricity from Merowe
Dam before it was targeted by RSF with drones, which prompted it to redistribute
electricity coming from Egypt to other localities, including Dongola, Dalgo, El Barqiq,
El Dabba, Merowe, which led to increase in power cuts in Abri during the last months,
especially before the end of the winter agricultural season, where power cuts exceeded 6
hours a day….the greatest impact of power cuts was seen in damage on the agricultural
sector, agricultural and livestock production projects depend entirely on electricity as
lifeblood of the industry. He confirms continuous power outages directly caused failure
of the winter season, and inflicted heavy losses on farmers who obtained financing from
the Agricultural Bank on the basis of repayment after the harvest, but are now facing
insolvency.
175 reports against farmers due to their inability to repay may expose them to
imprisonment or confiscation of property.…Wadi Halfa receives a stable 24-hr
electricity supply, with mining areas, while Abri suffers from outages up to 12 hrs
compared to only 6 hours of supply: “The public have been patient enough, as they came
out of the agricultural season with losses, and are now threatened with notices from the
banks and loss of their property, so what is left for them other than to protest?”….the
public acted consciously and did not resort to protesting until they exhausted all means
of communication with officials, had reached the conviction there were no serious
solutions, which prompted them to escalate peacefully. The residents…contacted the dir
of admin in Abri through an official delegation, but he stated the issue was beyond his
jurisdiction and advised them to be patient. The delegation then approached the exec dir
of Wadi Halfa, but without tangible results. This prompted them to contact the electricity
authority and state gov, but all attempts proved unsuccessful. Shibli adds the delegation
met with Min of Urban Planning in Dongola, who contacted officials of the electricity
co, but denied knowing about the problem in Abri, despite promising to carry out
technical solutions. He accused authorities of excessive force, firing tear gas and causing
injuries among protesters, including children. Criminal charges were filed before
detainees were released on bail. Ramzi El Masri believes protests came as a result of
long-standing grievances,…residents offered solutions, including allocating electricity to
farmers during the day and mining activities at night. Consumption amounts to about 6
megawatts, while mining activities consume about 4 megawatts, which calls for fair
redistribution….electricity is the foundation of life in the region, especially with
agriculture relying on it almost entirely, given high fuel prices: “We are not looking for
electricity for luxury, but for life, as our agriculture depends on it.”…small farmers are
unable to provide alternatives such as solar energy….held local authorities fully
responsible, criticizing…procrastination and lack of seriousness, stressing that the
situation is likely to escalate if the crisis is not addressed quickly. Dabanga
May 24
LIVESTOCK DEATHS FROM ILLEGAL MINING CHEMICALS. Mineral Resources
Co dispatched technical team to investigate death of 20 sheep in R Nile State after
animals drank from processing pools contaminated with chemicals used in gold mining.
The incident occurred where unregulated artisanal mining activities are taking place in
violation of approved environmental and technical standards. The water is suspected
contaminated with cyanide and thiourea commonly used in gold extraction. Sudan
Doctors Network held Min of Minerals and Mineral Resources Co responsible
for…environmental and public health risks arising from…hazardous chemicals in
artisanal mining, and called for urgent and transparent investigation and prosecution of
those responsible. Mineral Resources Co said a specialised technical team…has been
formed to conduct field assessment and carry out necessary technical investigations…its
most recent inspection was…in Dardaib, Red Sea State, where violations were found at
sites using chemicals outside approved technical and environmental standards, alongside
an unlicensed calibration lab. Sudan Tribune
May 23
UN MARKS INTERNATIONAL DAY TO END OBSTETRIC FISTULA,…THE
GLOBAL CONVERSATION IS MISSING GRAVER AND MORE URGENT
DIMENSION: TRAUMATIC FISTULAS INFLICTED BY EPIDEMIC OF SEXUAL
VIOLENCE. Obstetric fistula is among the most debilitating…injuries a woman can
sustain during childbirth. The resulting damage can open a hole in the wall separating
the birth canal from the bladder or rectum, leaving a woman incontinent. In Tina on the
Chad-Sudan border, hundreds of women are waiting for fistula surgery. Prof Eric
Reeves: Every case…is traumatic. Traumatic fistula is caused by sexual violence,
including rape and penetration with objects. The women who sustain traumatic fistula
are far less likely to be near a functioning medical facility. “Those who are suffering
from traumatic fistula are in places like Zamzam where there was nothing, or in rural
villages…where there’s no medical attention” Beyond physical injury, fistula…carries a
devastating psychosocial weight: “Given cultural taboo associated with rape, women are
reluctant to report to the few medical workers in refugee camps, which can lead to
medical complications of injuries sustained during the rape,” 2004 Amnesty Intl. Many
are shunned or abandoned by family and community due to the realities of constant
incontinence: “Most women will suffer serious psychological problems, having to
bearand raise an unwanted child and social stigma and lack of community support.”…these
psychosocial consequences are routinely underestimated precisely because the material
needs in conflict zones are so overwhelming: “There’s so much violence, so much brute
physical injury, what may be just as debilitating and damaging goes untreated.” Sexual
violence as a weapon of war is not a new phenomenon in Sudan.
The country once developed specialized networks for fistula care….Now that map has
been completely erased. RSF bombed El Dayan Maternity Hosp in Omdurman,
shutting down life-saving surgeries. The fall of El Fasher accompanied by mass rape
saw Saudi Maternity Hosp sustain a brutal attack by RSF. 460 people were killed inside,
many of them patients. The broader infrastructure has been gutted by staff displacement,
critical supply shortages, direct attacks on medical facilities, forcing…hospitals to close
entirely: “That was one of the most shocking episodes of the war. There is a reluctance
to come to terms with the reality of rape….To treat traumatic fistula is to come face-to-
face with the consequences of a demonic violence.” Team Zamzam facilitated 90 fistula
surgeries….Staff must psychologically prepare women who have never undergone
surgery, support them through catheterisation “which is very, very hard,” accompany
them to and from operating site and monitor recovery closely. The suffering was
unspeakable. But it was one of the things I’m proudest of in what we’ve been able to
do.” The logistics of providing care are increasingly perilous. The roads connecting to
surgical sites are difficult to navigate, and, with heavy rainy season fast approaching…
roads risk being cut off entirely. Security is constant threat. But what stays with
Reeves…is not the scale of suffering but moments of relief. Parents of women the
programme helped come to counsellors overwhelmed with emotion: “They don’t know
how to express it. They don’t have anything they can give; they just give their tears and
their thanks. The idea of seeing one’s daughter suffer in this way is just excruciating
beyond anything.” UN reported only 16% of Sudan’s humanitarian funding needs have
been met. The dismantling of USAID…cut programmes along the northern stretch of the
border. “Things are getting worse, not better, in terms of humanitarian resources. We’re
just trying to get through it month to month.” For women in Darfur waiting for fistula
surgery, that is the reality of what Intl Day to End Obstetric Fistula looks like this year.
May 22
POLICE FIRE TEAR GAS AT ELECTRICITY PROTEST NORTHERN SUDAN.
Police dispersed hundreds of protesters in Abri, Northern State as demonstrations against
prolonged power cuts turned confrontational, with arrests and assaults on women and
children. Security forces used tear gas to break up the crowd, including inside residential
neighbourhoods and homes. Abri Today movement condemned…the barbaric behaviour
of security and police forces toward peaceful protesters, holding authorities fully
responsible for safety of those detained and injured….previous negotiations with local
executive dir failed, and dismissed govt pledges as attempts to absorb public anger
rather than address the crisis. Abri and surrounding villages have been suffering
severedaily power cuts for extended hours amid rising temperatures and growing frustration.
The movement warned closure of commercial road…protesters previously blocked “was
not a random choice but a legitimate weapon,” and threatened to reimpose the blockade
on a wider scale if the security crackdown continues and the electricity crisis is not
addressed. Sudan’s electricity infrastructure sustained severe damage during the
war,…15,000 transformers destroyed and 150,000k of cable looted from Khartoum for
copper. Total national generation capacity stands at 3,000 megawatts from…
hydroelectric and thermal sources, but war-damaged thermal plants particularly in Bahri
significantly reduced available supply.
S KORDOFAN AID ROUTE REOPENS, UN WARNS RISING CIVILIAN DEATHS.
Humanitarian organisations resumed transporting medical supplies along key road
linking N and S Kordofan after SAF reopened the Delling-Habila route, ending months
of disruption. S Kordofan, multiple drone strikes killed 2 people….damaged a health
facility and destroyed medical supplies and equipment…2 front-line health workers were
killed…28 people were killed in Delling and W Kordofan. Local traders in Kadugli said
commercial activity had begun to recover following the army’s advance, with markets
gradually reopening after months of insecurity and shortages. However, traders urged
authorities to reinforce security along the route and fully reopen the national road to
guarantee uninterrupted movement of goods and humanitarian assistance, particularly as
the autumn rainy season approaches. Humanitarian organisations reached 9m people
Jan-April this year. However, aid agencies warn severe funding shortages and worsening
economic crisis are deepening humanitarian suffering. Dabanga
PARAMILITARY COMMANDER ARRESTED…FOLLOWING GLOBAL OUTRAGE
OVER VIDEOS OF HIM EXECUTING UNARMED PEOPLE, RELEASED FROM
PRISON and returned to active duty, 9 sources told Reuters. RSF officers pleaded for
Gen al-Fateh Abdullah Idris/Abu Lulu to be returned to the field to boost morale of
forces engulfed in heavy fighting. RSF imprisoned Abu Lulu…after its bloody takeover
of al-Fashir….Multiple videos surfaced of him executing unarmed people. His actions
earned him the nickname “butcher of al-Fashir” noted by UN Sec Council when
sanctioning him…for human rights abuses. An independent UN probe found mass
killings in al-Fashir bear hallmarks of genocide. A separate UN probe found 6,000
people killed by RSF Oct 25-27. 4 videos verified by Reuters show Abu Lulu shooting
15 captives….After intl outcry by UN leaders, US politicians and others,
Dagalo/Hemedti acknowledged violations by his fighters and said an accountability
committee would…investigate. RSF released a video of Abu Lulu being driven to Shala
prison. Abu Lulu is from the same clan as Hemedti’s brother…Abdelrahim Dagalo
personally ordered Abu Lulu’s release according to…RSF commander and RSF
officer…the dep commander ordered his release.
The videos of Abu Lulu are among 300…analyzed by Reuters and Sudan Witness Proj,
Center for Info Resilience. The investigation found 3 other senior RSF commanders in
the same area when the mass killings took place. One verified by Reuters shows Gedo
Hamdan Abu Nashuk, highest ranking RSF commander for the region, walking
alongside Abu Lulu within 40 meters of videos that showed Abu Lulu executing
unarmed men. Under intl law, these leaders may be held criminally liable for crimes
committed by their fighters, Jehanne Henry, human rights lawyer, The Reckoning
Project, US non-profit that documents war crimes. Reuters spoke with 6 survivors…who
witnessed Abu Lulu killing civilians. Manazil Mousa, 25, recognized Abu Lulu from
videos and met him on the road…as she and her family were fleeing. He took their
phones and belongings, beat them severely and killed her brother, Mubarak: “Abu Lulu
is the one who abused us. He was the one who killed Mubarak. He is the one who killed
our families and our husbands.” Madina Adam, 38, said Abu Lulu entered Al-Fashir
Univ, where she was sheltering with other civilians, and started to kill women and
children. She described one moment when Abu Lulu asked a pregnant woman how
many months along she was, and when she responded “7 months” he shot her 7 times in
her stomach. Abu Lulu asked…10 children to sit on the ground and forced them to chant
RSF slogans while he filmed. The children asked not to be killed, he shot all 10 of them.
An RSF commander said…“He has been free 3 or 4 months and is on the battlefield with
his troops”. Abu Lulu’s relative said “He is very popular with troops and that’s good for
their morale.” In videos verified by Reuters and Sudan Witness, RSF fighters praise
Abu Lulu and his killings. Salah Abdeen Mohamed Azala says many fighters are ready
to take Abu Lulu’s place…speaking to the camera. Al Arabiya
May 19
KHARTOUM’S SLOW RECOVERY AMID CAUTIOUS RETURN. Night often hides
imperfections, but in Sudan’s capital, the scars of war are laid bare in daylight.
Neighbourhoods and homes lie in ruins, yet signs of recovery are visible along roads,
with rubble cleared and traffic slowly returning….refugees and displaced residents, many
of whom fled 3 years ago, are returning cautiously…Al Jazeera’s observations during a
tour of Khartoum reveal stark differences across the city. Wealthy districts… remain
largely deserted. In central Khartoum, silence hangs over the ruined Arab Mkt and city
centre. The area was once home to ministries, institutions, banks and the central gold
market. Signs of life are scarce, except along Freedom St…where shops reopened and
shoppers have begun to return. Neighbourhoods in Khartoum remain largely empty, with
a limited number of residents. At night, these neighbourhoods fall into darkness due to
lack of electricity, while during the day, heavy traffic along Sixty St stands out. Along
the street, banks, pharmacies, shops, restaurants,…fuel stations reopened, yet residential
areas behind it remain quiet by day and shrouded in darkness at night. Families in these
neighbourhoods are approaching the decision to return carefully, while others are
postponing until services improve and life becomes closer to normal.
Many homeowners are not under severe economic pressure, and some established
themselves abroad. After more than 2 years away, many fear they may not find similar
conditions if they come back, particularly given the fragile economy and difficult living
circumstances. The decision to return is influenced by…income, children’s education,
healthcare services and confidence in ongoing security and stability. In Omdurman,
Karari has seen economic and population growth. RSF…were not present during the war.
Karari inheriting Khartoum’s role with commercial activity, property businesses and
govt institutions relocating there, leaving it better off. Life is coming back to parts of
Omdurman and Umm Badda. E Nile has seen increasing numbers of residents returning,
as have Khartoum N, though central areas still struggle under rubble….hesitation to
return stems not only from economic conditions…but from psychological effects of the
war. Some families suffered trauma through loss of relatives, destruction of homes,
looting or long periods in conflict zones, creating lasting fear. The instability in the
capital prompted some to sell their homes.
May 18
INFLATION CLIMBED TO 45.84% IN APRIL, SHARP INCREASE FROM 40.22%,
as Sudanese pound continues to lose value against foreign currencies….reflecting
sustained pressure on households and markets. Economists linked the surge primarily to
weakening currency, which has driven up cost of food, transport, fuel and essential
goods across the country….across Sudan’s social and economic groups in urban and
rural areas. The latest rise adds to mounting pressure on households already grappling
with economic fallout of the war, which disrupted trade, agriculture, livelihoods, basic
services across large parts of the country. Dabanga
WASHINGTON RECOGNITION OF SAF-LED ADMINISTRATION IN PT SUDAN
AS SUDAN’S EXISTING GOVERNMENT, the clearest American statement rejecting
rival governing structures linked to RSF. The remarks amount to significant rhetorical
shift in US positioning toward authorities after 3 years of strained relations, indirect
diplomacy and public disputes. US largely avoided explicitly framing SAF-led
administration as legitimate governing authority, preferring to maintain formal distance
from the military junta and RSF while pursuing mediation efforts through Saudi Arabia
and regional partners. That ambiguity repeatedly angered Sudanese military leadership,
which viewed US diplomacy as placing the army and RSF on equal political
footing….RSF and allied political groups intensified efforts to institutionalize parallel
governing structures through Sudan Founding Alliance/Taasis which announced a rival
Transitional Peace Govt headed by Daglo. Sudan War Monitor
May 17
UAE FUELLING AFRICAN CONFLICTS WHILE EVADING ACCOUNTABILITY. A
newly published report by Inst for Intl & Security Affairs delivered critical assessment
of the UAE role in African conflicts, describing Abu Dhabi as a systematic spoiler that
arms proxy forces, manipulates diplomatic processes and bears significant responsibility
for the world’s worst humanitarian crises, facing no political consequences from Western
partners. The report…calls on Berlin and European partners to reassess their relationship
with UAE….presents Sudan as the most devastating example of Emirati interference.
UAE is identified as the most important military, logistical and financial backer of RSF.
RSF’s conduct has been particularly brutal….targeted violence against non-Arab
minorities, including sexual violence, mass killings, attacks on medical facilities and
hostage-taking. When RSF captured El-Fasher, a UN fact-finding mission described its
actions…as bearing hallmarks of genocide. Emirati support for RSF continued even after
Iranian strikes on UAE, with cargo flights departing from Emirates airports to Ethiopia,
to ferry supplies across the border to RSF. UN panel of experts documented 458 flights
involving heavy transport aircraft from Emirati military airports…to Libya Oct 2024-end
of 2025, 239 bound to a key hub for RSF resupply.
UAE rarely deploys its own forces. Instead, it operates through a carefully constructed
network of local proxies, private military contractors and logistical intermediaries….
Haftar’s Libyan Arab Armed Forces, Puntland Maritime Police Force in Somalia, and
Ethiopian govt during its war against the Tigray. UAE recruited and deployed hundreds
of Colombian mercenaries…as infantry, artillery personnel, drone pilots and even trained
children for combat. Supplies to RSF have been routed through Libya, Chad, Kenya,
Uganda, Rwanda, with Abu Dhabi deploying financial leverage including $1.5b loan to
Chadian Pres Déby. UAE profits from gold smuggling networks in conflict zones, with
ruling family ties to Haftar and RSF’s Dagalo. Economic interests are central, as state-
owned logistics giants…have port and infrastructure projects across the continent, and
military interventions protect trade routes and strategic resources. UAE’s drive to
outcompete Saudi Arabia for regional influence….Ideological opposition to the Muslim
Brotherhood shapes policy, with UAE consistently backing actors who suppress Islamist
movements. Personal enrichment through resource networks and ruling family ties to
conflict actors adds a further layer. UAE’s use of diplomatic engagement as cover,
whereby Abu Dhabi participates in intl peace processes while simultaneously
intensifying support for belligerents. 2025, UAE joined Sudan Quad alongside Egypt,
Saudi Arabia and US to end external support for conflict parties. According to US
intelligence,…UAE was actively intensifying support for RSF at the same time. Emirati
Min of State Nusseibeh spent 4 days meeting Members of European Parliament.
Nusseibeh’s endeavor was successful, a Parliament resolution…made no mention of
UAE support for RSF, following opposition from European People’s Party to
amendments tabled by left-wing parliamentary groups. The same pattern played out
during Berlin Libya Process 2019-20, when UAE pledged to halt arms transfers to
Libyan conflict parties but continued. Transport aircraft flew from Emirates to eastern
Libya on the day of the conference.
Western governments…consistently refuse to name UAE publicly in intl forums, despite
substantial documented evidence of its role in fuelling conflicts. No UN Sec Council
member explicitly raised Emirati support for RSF. This reluctance…reflects a
calculation in which trade ties, security cooperation, UAE’s close relationship with
“Israel,” and strategic goal of preventing Abu Dhabi from drifting toward China or
Russia consistently outweighed accountability. Al Mayadeen
HOW US IS FUELING SUDAN’S GENOCIDE. For over 900 days, civilians have
endured unprecedented rates of mass killings, forced displacement, sexual violence and
man-made famine at the hands of RSF, backed by UAE. As a Sudanese-American
human rights lawyer documenting, mapping and challenging these atrocities, I watched
the US cast itself as neutral broker of peace in Sudan while pursuing policies that
actively perpetuate genocide. Treasury Dept issued terrorism-related designations under
the Specially Designated Nationals list. Despite acknowledging RSF is committing
genocide, instead of targeting RSF or UAE sponsors, designations fell on Sudanese govt
officials and resistance actors fighting to defend the country from RSF advance. US
framed Sudan’s official government and grassroots resistance to RSF as Islamist
terrorism, while allowing the militia that carried out ethnic cleansing and mass killings
to operate with impunity. The logic behind this decision is not new; US policymakers
have through…“counterterrorism” frameworks undermine Sudanese sovereignty and
harm civilians. These designations destabilize what remains of Sudan’s governing
institutions, threaten fragile infrastructure protecting civilians, and cast a wide dragnet of
criminalization that could ensnare Sudanese diaspora organizing in the US….community
activism, humanitarian fundraising and advocacy work risk being painted as terrorism.
US not only continues to arm UAE, RSF’s primary weapons supplier, but increased
weapons sales and strengthened diplomatic relations with UAE since RSF’s siege began
in 2023. US DOS and weapons companies are actively profiting, supplying Emirates
with $billions worth of aircraft, bombs, ammunition, even after evidence surfaced UAE
was funneling arms directly to RSF. Washington has chosen to punish Sudanese
civilians….Sudan is experiencing the largest forced displacement crisis in modern
history, yet the administration placed the country on its immigrant red list, banning
resettlement for those fleeing genocide. Humanitarian aid tells a similar story. US
encouraged dependency on its aid structures for decades, only to abruptly cut funding at
the height of RSF-made famine. Starving families are met with shortages and
hyperinflation of basic goods as a direct result of sanctions and aid cuts. In besieged
areas like El Fasher, where RSF is deliberately starving civilians, these cuts mean
children go without food, medical clinics shut their doors and community kitchens run
out of staples. When I spoke to community kitchens and grassroots humanitarian groups,
they described a desperate struggle to keep people alive with dwindling resources.
In the midst of destabilizing Sudan’s economy and abandoning civilians at the time of
most need, Washington doubled down on a diplomatic process that entrenches the
militia’s power. Time and again, US convened “peace talks” that invite RSF and UAE to
the table, treating them as legitimate political stakeholders rather than aggressors. Just
days ago the administration convened peace talks inviting RSF chief Algoney Dagalo
amid his annihilation campaign in El Fasher, that laid bare the cruel absurdity of calling
for peace by legitimizing those who commit genocide. RSF…are treated as a political
actor that must be bargained with, while the Sudanese govt is delegitimized. These
processes give RSF intl recognition, codify illegal occupation of territory and dismiss
voices of civilians…resisting genocide. What emerged is a consistent pattern: every lever
of US policy is tilted against Sudanese people in favor of their oppressors. Sanctions
starve the besieged. Immigration bans slam the door on the displaced. Peace talks
legitimize the killers. Designations criminalize the resistance. Aid cuts pull the rug out
from under dying civilians. US corporations and policymakers enrich themselves in an
economy of genocide, profiting from weapons trade. American audiences must demand
an end to silent complicity. US cannot continue to play public mediator and private
instigator in Sudan. US has an obligation to halt arms deals to UAE, uphold the right to
asylum and lift sanctions that amount to collective punishment of civilians.
Decolonize Sudan is a women-led collective of Sudanese American organizers
and advocacy professionals dedicated to providing anti-imperialist education and
advocacy on Sudan. Suad Abdel Aziz, Sudanese American human rights lawyer and
founder.
US AID HAS ALWAYS BEEN TOOL OF CONTROL. UNDER TRUMP, IT’S A TOOL
OF DEATH. The cuts to USAID are starving nations…made dependent on aid by
previous admins. A shipment of US wheat intended to feed millions of Yemeni civilians
has become a stark symbol of how the Trump admin weaponizes humanitarian aid to
punish geopolitical enemies, but also stage a hollow performance of compassion. A US
cargo ship carrying thousands of tons of wheat departed for Yemen, where…. The aid
could have fed 3.2 million for a month. But after Trump admin baselessly designated
Ansar Allah a terrorist organization — condemned by UN and aid groups as disastrous
for civilians —the wheat sat stranded at sea for months. The result? Rotting wheat,
wasted aid, worsening starvation. In an apparent attempt to salvage its image, the admin
hastily rerouted the decaying wheat to Sudan….The same admin that imposed unilateral
sanctions and immigration ban on Sudan, restricting financial flows and humanitarian
operations, is attempting to cast itself as savior of Sudanese civilians. DOS insisted the
wheat would serve as a lifeline. But when the shipment arrived in Sudan it was too late.
The wheat was completely spoiled. Dr. Ahmed Issawi, Min of Agriculture & Natural
Resources: “It was rotten before it reached our port.” It reflects a broader US policy that
treats humanitarian aid as a tool of geopolitical strategy where food, medicine and basic
survival are leverage for imperial interests. In Sudan, it means imposing sanctions that
destabilize an already devastated economy, while issuing statements about spoiled aid
shipments to feign moral leadership and deflect accountability. While DOS attempted to
spin the rerouting of wheat telling CNN “the wheat won’t go to waste” the reality is
different.
Sudanese civilians continue to face hyperinflation, food shortages, rampant malnutrition.
RSF…weaponized hunger by controlling food and telecommunications. US sanctions, far
from pressuring warlords, isolate civilians from resources they need to survive. Trump
admin’s politicization of humanitarian aid is not a break from US policy but a
continuation of how aid has long been used to enforce global power hierarchies.
Throughout Sudan’s post-colonial history, US positioned itself as primary aid provider,
leveraging food, development assistance and financial relief to shape political alignment.
Since the Cold War, US used development assistance through USAID not only to offer
help, but to control. Govts in Global South were pushed to accept economic reforms that
opened their markets to foreign investors, slashed public spending, left local economies
weakened. Sudan was forced to restructure agriculture, liberalize trade and rely on
imports including imported food. Whether under the guise of counterterrorism
cooperation, structural adjustment demands or support for democratic transition, US aid
prioritized geopolitical goals over Sudanese people’s material needs. This legacy of
conditional aid is neocolonial at its core: It enforces dependency while maintaining the
illusion of benevolence. When Sudan falls out of favor…the aid once touted as support
becomes a weapon of coercion or disappears.
The effects of cuts to humanitarian aid are unfolding in full force. In Sudan and across
the Global South, millions are being pushed to the brink of famine as food, health care
and emergency support vanish. US yanked the rug out from under countries like Sudan,
cutting off lifelines it deliberately made them rely on, as famine and collapse reach their
most devastating point. According to AP, recent US budget cuts affect 18m people
worldwide who rely on US food assistance. Boston Univ estimates abrupt cuts to
USAID meant 300,000 people died in the first 3 months of cuts, 200,000 of them
children. In Sudan, these cuts forced humanitarian organizations to halt food
distribution, forcing closure of 80% of emergency food kitchens. Sudan is now home to
the largest hunger crises in the world. WFP reports 25m people, half the country, are
facing starvation. According to Taysser Dafalla, humanitarian worker who leads
Hasahisa Community Kitchen, the impact has been immediate and brutal: “Since the
cuts, the kitchen has been barely able to continue. We are only operating with the help of
diaspora sending money from abroad. We used to serve hundreds of meals every day.
Now, we’re lucky if we can feed a quarter. The children ask for more, but we have
nothing left to give.” In displacement camps and conflict zones, the collapse of food
programs pushed communities past the breaking point. Adam Rojal, humanitarian
worker from Darfur at Nertiti Camp, described conditions: “Nertiti Camp and
surrounding villages are experiencing mass starvation. Women are sacrificing
themselves to feed their children so they can survive. People are dying of thirst. This is
the worst situation we have ever been in. Before, we were struggling. Now, people are
burying loved ones because they haven’t eaten. The world needs to know…We are not
starving because of nature. There is nothing natural about this.” USAID reported to
Reuters shipments of food sitting unused in warehouses due to budget freezes. Programs
meant to support children, maternal health and food delivery being delayed or
dismantled across multiple crisis zones. This bureaucratic standstill turned urgently
needed aid into dead weight — $billions in resources stall in storage while lives are lost
by the hour. US spent decades creating a model where countries were made reliant on
aid for basic survival and is now pulling the plug in a moment of mass starvation. The
people paying the price…civilians already trapped between war, sanctions and climate
disaster. The deliberate weaponization of food and humanitarian aid by the US amounts
to collective punishment….siege warfare waged through bureaucracy and diplomacy,
targeting already starving populations. These coercive measures violate fundamental
principles of intl humanitarian and human rights law. Sanctions are not weakening
armed actors, they are strangling civilians and entire societies. Aid blockades and
restrictions on financial systems made it nearly impossible for humanitarian agencies to
operate — exacerbating malnutrition, disease and displacement on a mass scale. There
can be no justification for policies that knowingly deepen starvation and human
suffering. Governments and intl bodies must stop using humanitarian aid, sanctions and
blockades as tools of political coercion. The intl community must demand accountability
and take concrete steps to ensure relief efforts are never weaponized. Truthout