Sudan's Burhan uses starvation as a weapon of war

Fighting erupted in Sudan in April 2023, pitting the national army led by General Abdel Fattah al Burhan against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces of his former deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.

Aid groups say the fighting has prevented humanitarian supplies from reaching the 25 million Sudanese facing severe hunger.

US-led mediators have said they had secured guarantees from Sudan's warring parties at talks in Switzerland to improve access for humanitarian aid, but that the Sudanese army's absence from the discussions had hindered progress.

In an illustration of the challenges, only a fraction of the aid available at Adre has been dispatched this week, as the army-aligned government imposed a halt to movements after the crossing opened for the first time in months.

Intense diplomatic lobbying failed to persuade the army leader to send a formal delegation to Switzerland, although mediators said they were in contact with the army virtually.

The civil war in Sudan began in April 2023 when competition between the army and the RSF, who had previously shared power after staging a coup, flared into open warfare.

The army led by General Abdul Fattah Al-Burhan has been seeking to protect its power and extensive economic interests as the international community promoted a plan for a transition towards civilian rule.