Sudan
As of February 2026, Sudan is facing what the United Nations describes as the "world's worst humanitarian and human rights crisis." Having passed 1,000 days of conflict in January, the war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has evolved into a catastrophic cycle of ethnic cleansing, famine, and systematic sexual violence.
1. Mass Atrocities and Ethnic Violence
The conflict has taken on an increasingly racist and genocidal dimension, particularly in Darfur.
The Fall of El Fasher: In late October 2025, the RSF captured El Fasher, North Darfur’s capital. Survivors fleeing the city describe "apocalyptic" scenes of mass killings, with hundreds of bodies left in the streets. Thousands of people sheltering at El Fasher University were reportedly targeted based on their non-Arab ethnicity.
Systematic Executions: As control of territory shifts, both sides have been accused of summary executions of civilians suspected of "collaborating" with the enemy. The UN documented piles of bodies along roads leading away from conflict zones in early 2026.
Drone Warfare: A new and deadly trend in 2026 is the widespread use of advanced drone systems by both sides. On February 7, 2026, drone strikes on the border town of Al-Tina killed 10 civilians and injured 25, including those seeking refuge in hospital zones.
2. The Famine and Health Catastrophe
Sudan is currently the world’s largest hunger crisis, with starvation being used as a deliberate weapon of war.
Famine Confirmation: As of February 2026, famine has been officially confirmed in El Fasher (North Darfur) and Kadugli (South Kordofan). Over 21 million people face acute food insecurity, with 7 million facing imminent starvation.
Child Malnutrition: In some localities like Um Baru, acute malnutrition rates have hit a staggering 53%. Experts estimate that over 500,000 children have already died from malnutrition and related diseases since the war began.
Healthcare Collapse: More than 70% of health facilities in conflict zones are non-functional. A major cholera outbreak has spread to all 18 states, with over 113,000 cases and 3,000 deaths recorded by early 2026.
3. Systematic Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV)
The war in Sudan is being described by human rights advocates as a "war waged on the bodies of women and girls."
Scale of Abuse: A women's rights network verified nearly 1,300 SGBV incidents by early 2026, with 87% of perpetrators linked to the RSF. Survivors include girls as young as eight years old.
Sexual Slavery: Reports from Darfur and Khartoum indicate that women are being abducted, held in "slave-like" conditions, and subjected to repeated gang rape as a method of ethnic terror and displacement.
Lack of Support: In February 2026, Irish Aid and the IRC announced emergency funding to scale up GBV services, but many survivors remain trapped in conflict zones with no access to medical or psychological care.
4. Freedom of Expression: A Media "Vacuum"
Sudan’s media landscape has virtually collapsed, replaced by a vacuum where disinformation thrives.
Journalists in Exile: More than 400 journalists have fled Sudan since the war began. Only a handful of independent outlets remain, mostly operating from abroad.
Targeted Disappearance: Contact has been lost with scores of journalists. In late 2025, five reporters were abducted by the RSF in El Fasher; their whereabouts remain unknown as of February 2026.
Information Warfare: Both the SAF and RSF utilize "rogue agents" to exploit social media complaint systems, successfully suspending the accounts of independent newsrooms and activists.
5. Displacement and State Fragility
World's Largest Displacement: Over 12 million people (one in three Sudanese) are now displaced. Approximately 9.5 million are internal refugees, while 3 million have fled to neighboring countries like Chad and South Sudan.
Institutional Collapse: The RSF announced a "parallel government" in Darfur in late 2025, further deepening the risk of a permanent state fracture.
Humanitarian Obstruction: Both warring parties continue to willfully block aid. In February 2026, the SAF was criticized for refusing to allow aid through key crossings, even as famine deaths mounted.