In the depths of Sudan’s ongoing war, countless lives are being claimed in silence. Amid shellfire and starvation, burials in shallow graves have become a grim norm. The deceased, including infants and tortured men, are often laid to rest together, their lives cut short by violence or neglect. At Omdurman’s Ahmad Shafi cemetery, the earth is ceaselessly opened to accommodate the dead, reflecting the sheer scale of this humanitarian catastrophe.
The conflict began in April 2023, sparked by a power struggle between General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as “Hemedti,” leader of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Backed by regional and global powers, including the UAE, Egypt, Russia, Chad, and Türkiye, the war has devastated Africa’s third-largest country. Over 150,000 people have perished, 11 million have been displaced, and 26 million face severe hunger. Famine has already been declared in parts of the country, threatening a humanitarian crisis on par with the Horn of Africa’s 1984 famine.
The destruction has spared little. Between 60% and 70% of Sudan’s medical facilities have been obliterated, while pharmaceutical production has ground to a halt. Hospitals like Al-Naw in Omdurman are overwhelmed, treating hundreds daily amid resource shortages. Dr. Jamal Eltayeb Mohamed, the hospital director, expressed frustration at the lack of international response, saying, “Apart from MSF [Médecins Sans Frontières], we feel abandoned.” Patients lie on floors, and medical staff work tirelessly to treat injuries caused by indiscriminate shelling.
Six-year-old Ghaytha’a Abdullah, severely injured by RSF shellfire, lies speechless in a hospital bed. Her brother, playing beside her at the time of the attack, was killed instantly. Their story echoes the plight of millions displaced by relentless violence, their lives uprooted by a conflict that shows no sign of abating.
Türkiye Leads Ceasefire Mediation Efforts
Türkiye has emerged as a key player in the effort to mediate peace in Sudan. It became the first country to respond to calls for a ceasefire by initiating talks between Sudan and the UAE. This week, a Turkish delegation visited Port Sudan to engage directly with stakeholders and assess the crisis on the ground.
The UAE, a known backer of the RSF, has been accused of supplying arms and financial support to Hemedti’s forces. By mediating between Sudan’s warring parties and their external supporters, Türkiye aims to bridge the gap and encourage dialogue. Analysts highlight Türkiye’s historic ties to Sudan and its growing regional influence as pivotal in these efforts.
Mediation Challenges and Global Involvement
The African Union, IGAD, and the UN have also engaged in peace talks, but trust between the SAF and RSF remains low. Previous agreements, including the Jeddah Peace Initiative led by Saudi Arabia, have repeatedly failed. Türkiye’s involvement, however, offers a fresh approach by addressing external influences, particularly the role of the UAE in sustaining the RSF.
Despite temporary ceasefires, the fighting has intensified in many regions, underscoring the complexity of reaching a lasting peace. Türkiye’s efforts mark a critical step forward, but success will require coordinated international support.
A Country Teetering on Collapse
The RSF has seized vast territories, including parts of Darfur and Khartoum, while the SAF continues to fight for control of key cities. Omdurman’s neighborhoods lie in ruins, and survivors harbor deep resentment. An SAF officer described the siege his unit endured: “My soldiers were so hungry they ate my three cats.”
The humanitarian crisis remains dire. The UN’s 2024 appeal for $2.7 billion is critically underfunded, with only 57% of the needed amount received. Countries like the U.S. have provided $2 billion in aid, but more is needed to address the worsening famine and displacement crisis.
In Omdurman, undertaker Abdin Dirma oversees daily burials at an unprecedented scale. Graves spill beyond cemetery walls as the dead—victims of shellfire, starvation, and disease—are laid to rest. Children are now buried alongside adults, their fates intertwined in death as in life.
“Some say I’ll be buried here too,” Dirma remarked. “I tell them I’ll bury them first.”
As Sudan’s tragedy deepens, the international community must prioritize the crisis. Türkiye’s mediation, particularly its engagement with the UAE, represents a crucial opportunity to de-escalate the conflict. However, without stronger commitments from other global powers, the path to peace remains fraught with challenges. For Sudan’s people, the need for immediate humanitarian aid and a durable peace agreement has never been more urgent.