Sudan’s War Deepens Food Crisis, Echoing Historical Famines Amid Displacement

What happened

Al Jazeera Sudan reports that the ongoing war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), active since April 2023, has escalated into one of Sudan’s worst modern food crises, with famine conditions reported in 2024 and 2025. This crisis is described as man-made, caused by conflict-driven disruption of farming, displacement of rural populations, and obstacles to food distribution and humanitarian aid.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. Historical famines in Sudan, including one during the late 19th century under Khalifa Abdullahi al-Taashi and drought-induced famines in 1984, provide a grim backdrop to the current crisis. Unlike earlier famines often localized to regions such as Darfur and Kordofan, the present crisis is reported to be widespread, affecting urban and agricultural hubs like Khartoum, Gezira, Sennar, Darfur, and Kordofan.

According to social historian Abdullah al-Tijani, the war has led to systematic destruction of infrastructure, agricultural disruption, and targeted attacks on markets and crops, alongside restrictions on humanitarian transit and relief delivery. These factors have intensified food insecurity and displacement both inside Sudan and beyond its borders.

Known from the source

• War between Sudanese army and Rapid Support Forces started in April 2023.
• Sudan is experiencing a food crisis with famine reported in 2024 and 2025.
• Conflict is disrupting farming, trade, food distribution, and humanitarian aid movement.
• Famine conditions affect multiple regions including Khartoum, Darfur, Gezira, and Kordofan.
• Historical famines often driven by drought and environmental factors.

What remains unclear

Economic researcher Mohammed Abdul Rahman notes the crisis exposes longstanding weaknesses in Sudan’s agricultural sector, including poor investment, traditional farming methods, and lack of stable political support, all worsened by ongoing conflict and displacement. Despite Sudan’s extensive arable land and water resources from the Nile, its potential to be a food producer remains unrealized amid the fighting.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Verification of current casualty and displacement numbers from multiple local or humanitarian sources. Confirmation of which parties are responsible for targeted destruction of infrastructure and markets. Independent verification of claims that warring parties use control of food supplies as a weapon.

Evidence note

Outside Brief has kept this brief source-led and attributed. Claims should be read alongside the original source linked below.

Original source: Al Jazeera Sudan. Open the source.