Backdrop, Paths, and Ceasefire Opportunities

Sudan has been witnessing a brutal war since April 2023, one that has displaced approximately a quarter of the population internally and externally. It has also created a massive humanitarian crisis. This war takes root in the protracted political conflict that has been ongoing since the 2018 December revolution that ousted former President Omar al-Bashir. In this context, three dimensions have emerged in the inter-Sudanese interactions, including the ideological and ethnic dimensions of the political conflict, as well as the military’s ambitions to seize political power, which it has succeeded in attaining through military coups throughout modern Sudanese history. So far, all local and international efforts to stop the war have failed. The world is currently looking forward to a new attempt by the Republican US administration, headed by President Donald Trump, in cooperation with the key Arab countries Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. In light of this context, the paper addresses in detail the course of the political crisis that has led to the Sudanese war, presenting the influencing factors and background information, as well as the roles of the political and military elites within it. It also explains the field maps of the conflict. Finally, the paper presents a number of recommendations regarding proposed approaches and policies to address the Sudanese crisis.