The Sudanese civil war, which erupted in April 2023, has devastated the country, displacing millions and exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis. Rooted in a power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the conflict reflects years of unresolved political tensions and social fractures. After the 2019 ousting of former president Omar al-Bashir and the collapse of Sudan’s democratic transition, violence engulfed the country, amplifying a fragile humanitarian situation and threatening regional stability. This resource guide provides readers with tools to understand the conflict’s causes, impacts, and broader implications.
Background Information
- TeachMideast: Sudanese Refugees in Egypt: Facing Arrest, Deportation, and Uncertainty
- TeachMideast: Sudan Country Profile
- BBC: Sudan War: A simple guide to what is happening
- Al Jazeera: Fighting in Sudan: A timeline of key events
- Global Conflict Tracker: Civil War in Sudan
- UN News: In Focus: Sudan Conflict
- The New York Times: Tracking the Fighting in Sudan: Maps and Videos
- Foreign Policy: Sudan
- MEPC: Tensions Among Sudanese Military Leaders Invoke Violent Conflict
Academic Articles
- Living through war: An oral history of civilians in Sudan by Daniel Rothbart, Karina Korostelina, and Beltina Gjeloshi
- The Impact of War on Children of Sudan by Waleed Gibreel
- Power Relations in Sudan after the Fall of Bashir: From Revolution to War by Gerrit Kurtz
- Lessons in Failure: Peacebuilding in Sudan/South Sudan by Jok Madut Jok
Lesson Plans and Teaching Materials
- A lesson plan on Religious and Ethnic Conflict in Sudan by reading and comparing text and video selections.
- Lesson Plan ‘Facing Sudan’ for raising awareness about Sudan.
- Newsthink: ‘Conflict in Sudan’ by BritishRedCross explores the current crisis in Sudan through a humanitarian lens in this newsthink resource.
Youtube Videos
- Al Jazeera English: What’s happening in Sudan’s civil war?
- The Wall Street Journal: On the Front Lines of Sudan’s Civil War, a ‘Catastrophic Situation’
- Al Jazeera English: ‘People don’t care’ – the global silence on Sudan
- Al Jazeera English: ‘As Sudan’s civil war rages on, what price do women pay?
Films
- “You will Die at Twenty” (2019) directed by Amjad Abu Alala – A boy from a Sufi village in Sudan, prophesied to die at twenty. Exploring themes of destiny, societal expectations, and self-discovery. The movie became Sudan’s first entry for the Academy Awards and highlights cultural and existential struggles.
- “Goodbye Julia” (2023) by Mohamed Kordofani – Tackling racism, colorism, and the tensions between Arab and African identities in Sudan, this film tells the story of Mona, an Arab-Sudanese woman, and Julia, a South Sudanese woman, whose lives intersect after a tragic event.
- “aKasha” (2018) directed by Hajooj Kuka – A love story set during the Sudanese civil war. It follows a rebel soldier, his love interest, and a comrade over 24 hours, providing a humorous yet poignant glimpse into life amidst chaos.
- “The Station (Al Mahatta)” (1989) by Eltayeb Mahdi – Portrays life at a Sudanese crossroad, depicting themes of identity and cultural intersections. Part of the Sudanese Film Group’s efforts to narrate authentic Sudanese stories.
Documentaries, and Filmed Debates
- “Beats of the Antonov” (2014) by filmmaker Hajooj Kuka – A hybrid documentary that captures the resilience of Sudanese communities displaced by war in the Blue Nile and Nuba Mountain regions. Kuka uses music as a lens to examine identity and survival amidst conflict.
- “Sudan, Remember Us” (2024) directed by Hind Meddeb – Explores the resilience and courage of Sudanese activists during the pivotal events of the 2019 uprising in Khartoum. It captures the overthrow of the dictatorship, the subsequent military crackdown, and the ongoing fight for freedom, showcasing the complexities of Sudan’s socio-political landscape.
- ARTE Reportage: “Sudan: The Forgotten War” (2024) directed by Sallah-Edine Benjamaa – This film provides a detailed examination of the long-standing conflicts in Sudan, including the ongoing civil war, highlighting the struggles of civilians amidst decades of political instability and violence. It also critiques the lack of global attention to Sudan’s crisis.
- Africanews Coverage of EU Parliament Debate on Sudan – The European Parliament debated Sudan’s crisis, focusing on the humanitarian fallout and the displacement of millions. Discussions emphasized the scale of internal displacement, famine risks, and the need for international support to prevent further escalation of the crisis.
Books
Nonfiction
- “They Poured Fire on Us from the Sky” by Benjamin Ajakk, Benson Deng, and Alephonsiion Deng – This memoir recounts the journey of three “Lost Boys of Sudan,” who survived the Second Sudanese Civil War and its atrocities as children, sharing their resilience in the face of suffering.
- “The Translator: A Tribesman’s Memoir of Darfur” by Daoud Hari – A personal narrative by a Zaghawa tribesman, Hari details his work as a translator during the Darfur genocide, bearing withness to atrocities while risking his life to help journalists expose the crisis.
- “Sudan: The Failure and Division of an African State” by Richard Cockett – This book explores Sudan’s political and economic challenges, chronicling how corruption, conflict, and poor governance contributed to its partition and ongoing stability.
- “Making and Breaking Peace in Sudan and South Sudan” edited by Sarah M.H. Nouwen, Laura James, and Sharath Srinivasan – A collection of essays analyzing the successes and failures of peace processes in Sudan and South Sudan, focusing on international, regional, and local factors shaping the fragile peace.
- “Sudan’s Unfinished Democracy” by Willow Berridge, Justin Lynch, and Raga Makawi – This book examines the rise and fall of Sudan’s 2019 democratic movement, highlighting the roles of grassroots activism, military power, and civilian leadership.
- “A Rope from the Sky: The Making and Unmaking of the World’s Newest State” by Zach Vertin – A detailed chronicle of South Sudan’s independence, examining the optimism surrounding its birth and the devastating challenges that led to its unraveling into conflict.
- “Saviors and Survivors: Darfur, Politics, and the War on Terror” by Mahmood Mamdani – Mamdani provides a critical analysis of the Darfur conflict, challenging conventional narratives and examining the role of Western interventions within the context of the War on Terror.
- “South Sudan: From Revolution to Independence” by Matthew Arnold – Tracing South Sudan’s journey from a decades-long liberation struggle to achieving independence, shedding light on the internal and external dynamics that shaped the state’s trajectory.
- “The Lost Boys of Sudan: An American Story of the Refugee Experience” by Mark Bixler – An account of Sudanese refugees rebuilding their lives in the U.S., the book explores their struggles with adaptation, identity, and the trauma of war.
Fiction
- “Ghost Season” by Fatin Abbas – Set in a small Sudanese border town during the civil war, this novel brings together the lives of five characters with conflicting identities and loyalties, offering a poignant exploration of love, betrayal, and survival amidst conflict.
- “Edo’s Souls” by Stella Gaitano – A novel by South Sudanese author Stella Gaitano, depicting the struggles of displaced individuals searching for stability, highlighting themes of loss, community, and resilience in the face of societal upheaval.
- “Wilted Flowers” by Stella Gaitano – Also by South Sudanese author Stella Gaitano, a poignant collection of short stories that captures the struggles, resilience, and humanity of marginalized Sudanese communities grappling with displacement, poverty, and systematic injustice in urban and rural Sudan.
- “Seasons of Migration to the North” by Tayeb Salih – This modern classic explores post-colonial identity and cultural dislocation as a Sudanese man returns home after studying in Europe, confronting the complexities of tradition, modernity, and the lingering shadows of colonialism.
- “Lyrics Alley” by Leila Aboulela – Historical novel set in 1950s Sudan, telling the story of a wealthy Sudanese family caught between tradition and modernity, with themes of love, ambition, and cultural transformation.
- “The Grab Hunter” by Amir Tag Elsir – A novel about a former Sudanese intelligence officer who turns to writing novels, only to find himself under suspicion again. The book offers a humorous yet critical look at life under an oppressive regime.
- “The Book of Khartoum: A City in Short Fiction” edited by Max Shmookler and Ralph Cormack – An anthology of short stories capturing the essence of Khartoum through diverse voices, exploring the lives, struggles, and dreams of its residents while reflecting the city’s rich cultural and political history.
Podcasts