On April 15, 2023, a violent conflict erupted in Khartoum, Sudan’s capital. The ongoing conflict has raised concerns about Sudan’s transition to democracy, which has been underway since the 2019 overthrow of long-serving authoritarian President Omar al-Bashir.

Who is fighting in Sudan?

The fighting is between two rival generals: Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, who leads the Sudanese military, and Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo (popularly known as ‘Hemedti’), who leads the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group. 

The two generals have been sharing power since 2021 when they carried out a military coup and overthrew Hamdok’s government in October 2021. Prior to that Burhan had been leading alongside a civilian prime minister who rose to the government's seat after a revolution ousted the nation's dictator, Omar al-Bashir, in 2019. After Bashir’s removal, civilians continued to demand democratic elections and a civilian-led government. 

Burhan appears to be aiming to ensconce himself as a dictator for life in Sudan. The RSF are a vast and powerful militia group that is, importantly, outside of command of the regular armed forces. This has allowed Hemedti to make himself a power broker in his own right. He controls a large chunk of the economy, especially the gold trade. Before this fighting started, Hemedti was effectively Burhan’s deputy. It’s clear now that Hemedti’s end goal is to be the undisputed ruler of Sudan as well. Caught in between are millions of civilians who have made their support for a democratic government clear. 

Where is Sudan?

Sudan is a Northeast African country. It is located in the Northern and Eastern Hemispheres of the Earth. Sudan is bordered by seven countries. Egypt bounds it to the north. It has borders with Libya and Chad to the northwest and west respectively.

What’s at stake in the region?

• Sudan’s economy has been struggling due to hyperinflation and massive foreign debt. 
• The conflict between the army and the RSF is likely to make Sudan’s transition to democracy even more challenging. 
• Its strategic location and agricultural wealth have attracted regional power plays, complicating the chances of a successful transition to civilian-led government. Some experts fear that the conflict could escalate into a wider conflict leading to the country’s collapse.
• Sudanese refugees have fled the recent fighting to the county’s neighbours, including thousands who have crossed into Chad.
• Major geopolitical dimensions are also at play, with Russia, the US, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other powers battling for influence in Sudan.
• The outbreak of civil war in Sudan has led to governments rushing to evacuate their diplomatic staff and citizens trapped in the capital. 

Operation Kaveri

• Operation Kaveri is a rescue operation launched by the central government to evacuate Indian citizens who are stranded in Sudan. 
• This evacuation operation was launched on 24th April 2023 in response to the ongoing violence at the affected zone. It is named after one of the major rivers in India, ‘Kaveri’. 
• A team of officials including the  Ministry of External Affairs, the Indian Air Force, and the Indian embassy in Sudan has been appointed by the Indians to ensure the proper process of evacuation gets followed.
• India sent an IAF aircraft and navy ship INS Sumedha which had already reached Port Sudan for the rescue operation.
• The rescue operation has been named Kaveri to establish a metaphorical significance. Therefore, this operation is named Operation Kaveri to establish the significance that rivers reach their destination despite the barriers they go through. Here, River Kaveri is portrayed as a mother who will ensure that she brings her children back home safely. 

Conclusion

The ongoing conflict between the army and the RSF is a significant setback to Sudan’s transition to democracy. The world waits to see if Sudan can find a peaceful path forward.