The 2023 Sudan conflict refers to the armed conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) that erupted in multiple locations in Sudan starting April 15, 2023, local time. As of April 26, at least 459 civilians have been killed and more than 4,072 injured as a result of the conflict. This data is from Wikipedia.

Back in April 2019, the regime of Omar al-Bashir, which had been in power for more than 30 years, was overthrown and Sudan's political situation underwent several changes, culminating in the Sovereign Council of Sudan taking charge of the country as the highest authority, with SAF Commander-in-Chief Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman Burhan as the council's chairman and Rapid Support Forces leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagallo as its vice chairman.

The military and civilians signed a power-sharing agreement, but Burhan overthrew the civilian government in a coup d'état on October 25, 2021. It is widely believed by local media and observers that Burhan and Dagallo are at odds politically, particularly over the status of the Rapid Support Forces.

This widespread and serious conflict has had a major impact internationally and has been a major blow to the lives of the people, with many displaced and homeless and even losing their lives.

What is the impact of the conflict in Sudan on people's lives?

Sudan has raised fuel and electricity prices significantly

Sudan has always been in a phase of electricity stress, and back in 2016, the Sudanese Ministry of Finance announced another economic adjustment program.

This program stated that the government would cut fuel and electricity price subsidies, which also meant that after the removal of subsidies, the prices of fuels such as gasoline and diesel in the Sudanese market would increase by 30%, and the prices of electricity outside the residential electricity quota would also increase.

However, after the development in recent years, especially after the McRoway Dam, Rosales Dam, and Upper Atbara Water Conservancy Hub, which were built with the participation of Chinese enterprises, came into operation, the situation of electricity tension has greatly improved.

At present, the total installed capacity of the country is about 3.5 million kilowatts, and the power supply still cannot meet the national demand for industrial and agricultural development. In 2019 end, Sudan is connected to the Egyptian power grid in phases and explores power cooperation with Ethiopia.

At the same time, several Chinese-funded enterprises involved in power generation and transmission projects are in the feasibility study or construction stage.

In addition to power assistance from Chinese companies, Sudan is also trying to cooperate with other countries and corporate projects to jointly develop Sudanese power and alleviate power tensions.

For example, in the historic coastal city of Lamu, Kenya, the headquarters of a $25 billion infrastructure project, the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport Corridor (LAPSSET) project.

This corridor connects Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, and South Sudan.

One of the projects is a fiber optic cable system connecting the four countries. 

Sudan conflict forces the closure of hospitals due to power outages

WHO warned on 17 December that Khartoum hospitals had run out of blood stocks, infusion equipment, intravenous drugs, and other critical supplies.

According to the Sudanese Doctors Committee, many local hospitals have been forced to close or evacuate due to shelling.

Due to the large number of shelling attacks, high-voltage power cables have been burned, electricity use has been interrupted and many electrical instruments are not functioning properly.

These include nine hospitals in Khartoum city and three in North Khartoum, while 12 other hospitals are also at risk of closure due to a lack of supplies.

Civilians' lives are at risk

A consequence of the disruption of electricity is also the disruption of communications. Continuous artillery fire has burned and disconnected many fiber-optic communication cables.

And most of the fighting is now concentrated in densely populated areas of the country's capital, Khartoum, and in residential areas of other cities.

Airstrikes and shelling carried out during the conflict, especially with explosive weapons with wide-area effects, have put civilians at risk of death and injury.

Türk said, "Thousands of civilians are trapped in their homes to escape the fighting, without electricity in their homes and unable to go outside, and there is fear of running out of food, drinking water, and medicine."

He also stressed that both sides to the conflict must remind their respective combatants of their obligations under international law to ensure the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, including schools and hospitals, and must ensure that these obligations are met.

Only 7% of the population in South Sudan has access to electricity

Electricity is tight, not only in Sudan, but South Sudan is the least electrified country on the continent, ranking at the bottom of the 10 countries with the lowest electricity supply in Africa.

The report, which details the countries with the lowest electricity supply, shows that the country is one of the worst performers in Africa in terms of electricity supply.

The report shows that only 7 percent of South Sudan's population of about 12 million people has access to electricity, indicating the country's continued low ranking regionally and globally.

It is followed by Chad, with 11 percent access to electricity, and the Central African Republic and Malawi, both with 15 percent access.

Neighboring DRC has 19 percent electricity access, while Niger and Burkina Faso rank at 19 percent.

Meanwhile, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Mozambique are among the ten worst-performing countries in a better position, with electricity rankings of 26%, 28%, and 31%, respectively.

The report found that the continent's electricity supply situation is the worst in the world.

The report notes that "the continent's power challenges are largely due to decades of failure by African leaders to adequately invest in their respective countries' power sectors to build much-needed capacity."

According to a recent report released by Wood Mackenzie Ltd, Africa's power supply sector will require $350 billion of investment between now and 2030.

Since gaining independence on July 9, 2011, South Sudan has struggled to emerge from internal conflict, flooding, and widespread food insecurity.

Despite the prolonged cessation of political conflict, the country has not improved significantly on the international stage and has recently been reported to be one of the most fragile, food-insecure, and corrupt countries in the world.

Some time ago the South Sudanese government reportedly signed a memorandum of understanding with Ethiopia to purchase 100 megawatts of electricity over the next three years.

Within two years, Ethiopia and South Sudan will build a 357-kilometer, 230-kilovolt transmission line to connect Ethiopia's Gambella region to South Sudan's Malakal region.

In addition, another 700 kilometers of line is planned between Ethiopia's Tepi distribution center and Juba, the capital of South Sudan.

This battle stems from a struggle for power and personal gain, which only serves to keep popular expectations of democracy out of reach."

@ZMS Cable Team