Sudan is experiencing a significant food crisis as ongoing conflict exacerbates food shortages and displacement. The war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which began in April 2023, has led to deteriorating conditions, with the situation worsening since 2024. Historical accounts indicate that Sudan has faced severe famines in the past, often linked to environmental factors such as drought. However, the current crisis is primarily driven by man-made factors, particularly the ongoing conflict.
The earliest recorded major food crisis in Sudan occurred in 1684 during the Funj Sultanate, leading to severe grain shortages and mass displacement. Subsequent crises were documented in 1750 and between 1835 and 1838, exacerbated by drought and low water levels in the River Nile. The famine between 1888 and 1889, during the rule of Khalifa Abdullahi al-Taashi, resulted in a death toll estimated at over one million, with families reportedly choosing to remain indoors rather than beg for food.
Throughout the 20th century, Sudan experienced additional food shortages due to droughts and poor harvests, particularly during the colonial period and under President Jaafar Nimeiri in 1984, which displaced hundreds of thousands of people.
Currently, war has disrupted agricultural production and trade, forcing farmers to abandon their land and complicating the distribution of food and humanitarian aid. Abdullah al-Tijani, a social historian and humanitarian activist, highlighted the unprecedented scale of the current crisis, stating that hunger and the collapse of basic services have affected the entire country, unlike previous famines that were often limited to specific regions.
Al-Tijani noted that major urban and agricultural centers, including Khartoum, Gezira, Sennar, Darfur, and Kordofan, are experiencing a comprehensive food crisis, resulting in millions of displaced citizens. He pointed to systematic destruction of infrastructure and targeting of markets and crops as contributing factors. Al-Tijani also mentioned restrictions on humanitarian access and delays in transit permits for relief workers, accusing the warring parties of using food supplies as a weapon.
Despite Sudan's agricultural potential, including approximately 200 million acres of arable land and abundant water resources, the country has not realized its potential as a global breadbasket. Economic researcher Mohammed Abdul Rahman noted that the food security crisis reflects a development gap and weaknesses in Sudan's agricultural sector, exacerbated by war, displacement of farmers, and a lack of political stability and effective agricultural policies.