How Sudan's war became East Africa's crisis – report

Explosions following ongoing clashes in Sudan (PHOTO/@MOSSADil/X)

When fighting erupted in Sudan in April 2023, many East African governments viewed it as a tragic but distant conflict. More than three years later, the war has evolved into one of the region’s most significant humanitarian, security and economic crises.

What began as a power struggle between Sudan’s military and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has triggered mass displacement, widespread atrocities and growing instability that is increasingly spilling across borders.

From refugee settlements in Uganda to security concerns in South Sudan and trade disruptions affecting Kenya, Sudan’s war is rapidly becoming East Africa’s crisis.

The warning is echoed in the African Union’s latest human rights assessment, which describes Sudan as one of the continent’s gravest emergencies. The report highlights escalating attacks on civilians, widespread displacement, sexual violence, destruction of infrastructure and growing humanitarian needs.

“The conflict in Sudan continues to result in grave human rights violations and abuses against civilians,” the report notes, warning that the violence is destabilising neighbouring countries and stretching regional response mechanisms.

For families fleeing the conflict, those warnings reflect a daily reality.

RSF General Commander Hamdan Dagalo. PHOTO/https://www.facebook.com/Econsaboteur

At transit centres along Sudan’s borders, thousands continue to arrive after weeks of dangerous journeys. Many have fled bombardments, armed attacks and food shortages. Children make up a significant proportion of those displaced, while humanitarian agencies warn that millions remain at risk of hunger and disease.

The scale of displacement is unprecedented in the region.

According to international humanitarian agencies, Sudan’s conflict has generated one of the world’s largest displacement crises, forcing millions from their homes and sending hundreds of thousands into neighbouring countries. The pressure is increasingly being felt across East Africa’s already strained humanitarian systems.

Uganda, long regarded as Africa’s most open refugee-hosting nation, continues to receive arrivals despite facing funding shortages. Refugee settlements are struggling to accommodate growing numbers as aid agencies warn of worsening resource constraints.

South Sudan faces an even more complex challenge.

Dadaab refugee camp.PJOTO/@KenyaRedCross/X

Continued instability in Sudan threatens trade routes, investment flows and broader regional economic integration. The conflict has also intensified demands on international humanitarian financing, diverting resources from other crises across the Horn of Africa.

The war is also reshaping regional security calculations.

Recent battlefield developments have demonstrated that neither side is capable of securing a decisive victory. As fighting continues in key urban centres and strategic territories, fears are growing that Sudan could face deeper fragmentation if political negotiations remain stalled.

The African Union report warns that the persistence of armed conflict risks undermining peace and security across the wider region. The longer the war continues, the greater the likelihood of cross-border instability, weapons trafficking and prolonged humanitarian dependence.

President William Ruto receives a briefing from Tumaini Initiative mediators on the South Sudan peace process at State House, Nairobi, on May 22, 2025. PHOTO/@WilliamsRuto/X

Source: https://peopledaily.digital/news/how-sudans-war-became-east-africas-crisis-report