Sudan's Forgotten War: A Journalist's Harrowing Account

Mohamed Suleiman, a journalist and academic, has finally found safety in the coastal city of Port Sudan after being trapped in the western city of el-Fasher for most of Sudan's civil war. The conflict, which began three years ago, has pitted the army against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group, leaving a trail of destruction and humanitarian crisis in its wake.

Suleiman's phone, which had been silent for three years, recently sprang to life, revealing a backlog of messages, including news of deceased colleagues and friends inquiring about his well-being. The silence, he says, was almost as deadly as the violence, as it prevented him from conveying the horrors he witnessed to the world.

The Fall of el-Fasher

The fall of el-Fasher, Suleiman's hometown, was one of the most brutal chapters of the civil war. The city was besieged by the RSF for 18 months, leading to famine conditions and a massive humanitarian crisis. Suleiman recounts the apocalyptic scenes he witnessed, including dead children in the streets, women crying from extreme hunger and thirst, and people too weak to carry their children.

The RSF leadership has admitted to "individual violations" during the takeover of el-Fasher but claims these are being investigated. Both sides have been accused of war crimes, including mass civilian casualties from air and drone strikes.

Communication Blackout

Communications in el-Fasher were severely disrupted due to the fighting and a fuel shortage, leading to a full blackout. Suleiman notes that some people smuggled in Starlink devices, which enable a satellite connection to the internet, but these were expensive and restricted by the army. Journalists who managed to access these devices faced significant risks from both sides, including accusations of espionage and being a spotter.

Suleiman himself was exposed to these risks and survived a shell that fell less than two meters from him in July 2025. He lay on the ground for half an hour, unable to call for help, and later had to hide in rooms and under beds to avoid shelling.

A Call for Action

As the conflict enters its fourth year, Suleiman is calling on the international community to take action to stop the fighting and address the humanitarian crisis. He notes that diplomatic efforts, including a peace plan put forward by the Quad nations, have failed, and the world has not met Sudan's enormous humanitarian need.

The US envoy, Massad Boulos, is currently trying to secure a humanitarian ceasefire. Suleiman believes that telling his story gives him a sense of purpose and hopes that it will help correct the situation for future generations.