SUDAN CRISIS

17 Apr 2023 SUDAN CRISIS

SUDAN CRISIS

This article covers “Daily current events “and the topic is about ‘SUDAN CRISIS’ which is in news, it covers “International Relations” In GS-2; the following content has relevance for UPSC. 

For Prelims: SUDAN

For Mains: GS-2, International Relations

Why in news: After days of tension between a notorious paramilitary force and the country’s Army, explosions and shooting rocked the Sudanese capital Khartoum on 15 April. Sudan paramilitaries claimed that they have seized the presidential palace.

Context:

• After weeks of heightened tensions, clashes erupted between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo — commonly known as Hemedti — and the military, led by Lt Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.
• The two generals disagree on Sudan’s projected transition to civilian administration.

SUDAN CRISIS:

Sudan has experienced several crises in recent years, including political, economic, and humanitarian challenges.

Political Crisis: 

• Sudan began its slow transition to democracy in April 2019, when the generals deposed strongman President Omar al-Bashir amid a popular rebellion.
• Al-Bashir, long ignored by the West, had ruled Sudan for nearly 30 years.
• The military agreed to share power with civilians ahead of elections in an August 2019 deal.
• A coup in October 2021 abruptly ended the arrangement, sparking new huge pro-democracy marches across Sudan.
• Sudan’s military has been a dominant power since its independence in 1956. During the 2019-2021 power-sharing agreement, there was a lot of mistrust between the military and the civilian parties.
• The civilian side received credibility from a tenacious protest campaign and international support. The military was supported by rebel factions that benefited from a 2020 peace agreement, as well as veterans of al-Bashir’s regime who returned to civil service following the coup.
• The army regained control after the coup, but it was met with weekly protests, repeated isolation, and worsening economic hardships.
• A major source of contention since the revolt has been a civilian demand for military oversight and the incorporation of the formidable RSF into the regular army. Civilians have also demanded the return of profitable military assets in agriculture, trade, and other industries, which serve as a vital source of power for the army.
• Another area of dispute is the pursuit of justice for charges of war crimes committed by the military and its allies during the Darfur War in 2003. 

Economic Crisis: 

• Sudan has been grappling with a severe economic crisis, including high inflation, a currency devaluation, and widespread poverty. Economic challenges have been compounded by decades of mismanagement, corruption, and economic sanctions, which have had a detrimental impact on Sudan’s economy and its ability to provide basic services to its population.
• A growing economic crisis that sent the currency plummeting and caused frequent bread and fuel shortages was a major catalyst for al-Bashir’s demise.
• In a successful appeal for debt relief and foreign financing, the 2019-2021 transitional government launched dramatic measures monitored by the International Monetary Fund.
• However, after the 2021 coup, billions of dollars in international aid and debt relief were stopped, stalling development projects, straining the national budget, and aggravating an already grave humanitarian situation. 

Humanitarian Crisis:

• Sudan has also faced significant humanitarian challenges, particularly in conflict-affected regions such as Darfur, South Kordofan, and Blue Nile. These areas have experienced long-standing conflicts, resulting in displacement of populations, loss of lives, and limited access to basic services such as food, clean water, and healthcare. 
• Humanitarian organizations have been working to provide assistance, but challenges persist due to insecurity, lack of access, and resource constraints.

Tribal Conflicts: 

• Sudan has also experienced tribal conflicts in various parts of the country, which are often driven by ethnic, cultural, and resource-based tensions. These conflicts can arise from disputes over land, water, grazing rights, or other resources, and can lead to violence, displacement, and loss of lives. 

Intercommunal Violence:

• Sudan has also witnessed intercommunal violence between different ethnic or tribal groups, particularly in areas where there are unresolved disputes over land, resources, or political power. These conflicts can result in clashes, attacks on communities, and displacement of populations.

Regional picture of Sudan

• Sudan borders the Red Sea, the Sahel, and the Horn of Africa, all of which are volatile regions.
• Strategic location and agricultural richness: Sudan has attracted regional power players, complicating the possibilities of a successful transition.
• Several of Sudan’s neighbours have been affected by political changes and violence, notably Ethiopia, Chad, and South Sudan.
• Sudan’s relationship with Ethiopia has been strained in recent years due to disputed farmland along their border, unrest in the Tigray region that has driven tens of thousands of refugees into Sudan, and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
• Egypt, which has significant historical ties with Sudan and a tight relationship with its military, has taken a different path with coup supporters.
• The “Quad” of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States has funded mediation in Sudan alongside the African Union and the United Nations.
• Western nations are concerned about the possibility of a Russian base on the Red Sea, which Sudanese military commanders have expressed interest in.

Source: Mint

Yojna IAS daily current affairs eng med 17th April2023

saurabh kaushik