Sudan's Devastating Conflict: Unpacking the Myth of Two Equal Parties

As the devastating conflict in Sudan unfolds, a persistent myth has emerged in international discourse, labeling the conflict as a war between "two equal parties." This framing is not only false but also deeply unjust, blurring the moral and legal lines between a national army defending its state and people, and a militia waging terror against them. To understand Sudan's war, one must look beyond slogans and into logic, evidence, and the lived experience of millions of Sudanese civilians.

Key Takeaways:

• The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) is a constitutionally established institution, recognized by international law, and tasked with safeguarding Sudan's sovereignty and unity.
• The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia, led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo ("Hemedti"), is the rebranded face of the Janjaweed militia, responsible for genocide, ethnic cleansing, and mass atrocities in Darfur since 2003.
• The RSF militia has documented crimes against humanity, including mass killings, torture, sexual violence, and ethnic massacres, according to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
• Millions of Sudanese civilians have fled RSF-controlled areas, escaping to army-held zones or neighboring countries in search of safety, as reported by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
• The RSF militia's record is one of systematic brutality, while the Sudanese Armed Forces represent the continuity of the state, the flag, and the people's collective will to defend their homeland.
• Peace cannot be built on deception; it requires acknowledging who defends the nation and who destroys it, as stated by Ambassador Mohamed Osman Akasha.

Statistics:

• Over 9 million people have been displaced since the war began, with most fleeing violence, looting, and sexual abuse committed by RSF militias.
• The RSF militia has committed mass killings, torture, and sexual violence, documented by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
• Human Rights Watch recorded ethnic massacres in El Geneina, where RSF militia forces and allied militias slaughtered non-Arab civilians and burned entire neighborhoods to the ground.
• Amnesty International confirmed widespread rape, abductions, and forced disappearances used as weapons of war by the RSF militia.

Sources:

• "United Nations Commission of Inquiry on Darfur (2005)"
• United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
• United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
• Human Rights Watch
• Amnesty International
• Report of the UN Secretary-General to the Security Council (S/2023/700)