Sudan's Civil War Rages On: Displacement Crisis Deepens in el-Fasher as Gum Arabic Trade Fuels Conflict
Nairobi, Kenya — Sudan's brutal civil war, pitting the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), entered its third year in April 2025 with no resolution in sight, as fighting intensifies around key cities and displacement reaches critical levels. Recent reports highlight surging populations in displacement camps around el-Fasher, North Darfur's administrative capital, while the lucrative gum arabic trade emerges as a significant economic driver sustaining the conflict.
The war erupted on April 15, 2023, following months of escalating tensions between SAF commander General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF leader General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti. What began as power struggles over the transition from military rule after the 2019 ouster of longtime dictator Omar al-Bashir has devolved into a full-scale civil war, marked by urban battles, ethnic violence, and widespread atrocities. As of early 2026, the United Nations estimates over 12 million people displaced internally and more than 2 million refugees in neighboring countries, with famine warnings issued for parts of Darfur and Kordofan.
In el-Fasher, a critical SAF-held enclave amid RSF-dominated Darfur, displacement camps have ballooned since late December 2025. Humanitarian organizations report camps swelling with tens of thousands fleeing frontline clashes, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian situation. The city's strategic importance lies in its role as a logistics hub and one of the few remaining SAF bastions in western Sudan. Recent offensives by RSF forces have encircled el-Fasher, prompting mass evacuations and straining aid delivery. Aid groups describe conditions in the camps as "high severity," with overcrowding leading to disease outbreaks, food shortages, and limited access to clean water.
This displacement surge underscores the war's relentless momentum. El-Fasher has been a flashpoint since mid-2023, when RSF advances captured much of Darfur, reviving memories of the early 2000s Darfur genocide in which RSF precursors, the Janjaweed militias, were implicated. International mediators, including the United States, Saudi Arabia, and the African Union, have hosted multiple cease-fire talks—most recently in Geneva in late 2025—but violations persist, with both sides accusing the other of targeting civilians.
Compounding the military dynamics is the war's economic underbelly, particularly the role of gum arabic, a natural gum derived from acacia trees and a cornerstone of Sudan's export economy. Sudan supplies up to 80% of the global market for gum arabic, used as a stabilizer in soft drinks, pharmaceuticals, and confectionery. Production is concentrated in the "gum belt" of Kordofan and Darfur—regions now largely under RSF control.
A recent Al Jazeera investigation reveals how gum arabic revenues are fueling the war effort. RSF fighters reportedly impose taxes and levies on gum producers and traders in their territories, channeling funds into weapons purchases and fighter salaries. The trade, valued at hundreds of millions annually despite wartime disruptions, provides a vital lifeline bypassing international sanctions and financial restrictions. Exporters in Port Sudan, under SAF control, continue shipping loads, but smuggling networks ensure RSF benefits. This resource curse mirrors conflicts elsewhere, such as diamonds in Sierra Leone or oil in South Sudan, prolonging fighting by incentivizing control over lucrative areas.
Background on Sudan's Civil War
The conflict traces roots to Sudan's fractured post-independence history, including north-south wars culminating in South Sudan's 2011 secession and the 2019 revolution against al-Bashir. Al-Burhan and Hemedti initially allied to quash protests but clashed over integrating the paramilitary RSF—formed from Darfur militias—into the regular army. The April 2023 power grab in Khartoum sparked nationwide fighting, leveling the capital and prompting cholera epidemics and mass exodus.
By 2026, the war has claimed tens of thousands of lives, per conservative UN figures, though independent tallies suggest higher tolls. RSF dominates western Sudan, while SAF holds the east and center. External actors complicate matters: United Arab Emirates allegedly back RSF via arms smuggling, Egypt supports SAF, and Russia-linked Wagner Group (now Africa Corps) seeks gold mining concessions.
Humanitarian needs are staggering. The World Food Programme warns of famine in Darfur, with 25 million Sudanese—half the population—facing acute hunger. Cholera has killed over 1,500 since August 2024, and sexual violence reports surge.
Outlook Amid Stalemate
Peace prospects remain dim without addressing root economic drivers like gum arabic. International calls for sanctions on conflict financiers grow, but enforcement lags. In el-Fasher, aid convoys face blockades, and camp expansions signal no respite.
As 2026 unfolds, Sudan's war risks regional spillover, with Chad and South Sudan absorbing refugees. Diplomatic pressure mounts for inclusive talks, but battlefield gains dictate terms. For now, civilians bear the brunt, their flight to el-Fasher camps a stark reminder of a conflict devouring the nation's future.
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