Sudan: Two years of war and millions of civilians in agony

Two years into war in Sudan, the reality is grim: nothing has changed, except for the intensification of suffering. It's a bit like watching a football match without a winning team: the fans scream, the players tire, but the score remains hopelessly tied. The confrontation between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continues to plunge the country into unprecedented chaos, and civilians are the real losers in this fratricidal struggle.

Millions of refugees and a country in agony

Imagine for a moment a city where the alleys are deserted, where the screams of children have given way to a deafening silence. This is what the Sudanese are experiencing today. More than nine million people have been displaced by the conflict, nearly 20% of the population. Refugee camps, crammed with entire families, are turning into open-air prisons. On a global scale, Sudan has become a byword for despair, and there is no draw here: every day counts lives, often innocent lives.

Promises never kept

On the diplomatic front, it's the same dismal spectacle. The promises of peace put forward by international actors have proven to be empty promises, like a rapidly deflating balloon. Yes, talks have been held. Yes, agreements have been signed. But the reality on the ground is exactly the opposite: violence persists, negotiations fail, and mistrust grows. How can we believe in leaders who, instead of leading to reconciliation, arm themselves to stifle dissenting voices?

The uncertain role of the international community

The international community, though present, seems to be observing this tragedy instead of acting. The UN and other humanitarian organizations are sounding the alarm, but the noise of war drowns out their pleas. Sanctions are written on paper, but they seem to have only a limited effect on the real actors in the crisis. The question that remains is: how to pull Sudan out of this downward spiral? Solutions seem to be vanishing like a mirage in the desert, and the Sudanese find themselves cornered, with hope as their only weapon.

In short, two years of war and still no glimmer of hope on the horizon. Sudan is crying out, and it is high time the world listened and responded. Civilians deserve better than a false semblance of peace.