This is what the power struggle means for young people in Sudan

Thousands of people are on the run. There are increasing reports of numerous burglaries, looting of homes and businesses, and stolen cars at checkpoints. Fighting in Sudan plunges the country into chaos. UN Secretary-General António Guterres appealed to the Security Council to end the violence and warned of the outbreak of full-scale war.

As so often in militarized conflicts, the civilian population suffers most. Children and young people in particular are affected by the fighting, says Africa expert Gerrit Kurtz. “There are already reports of nine dead children, but the number is certainly higher,” says the political scientist of the “Foundation for Science and Politics” in an interview with Watson.

Fighting and supply crises put children and young people in particular at risk

According to Kurtz, children are also “stuck” in the schools in the middle of the combat zones – in other words, they simply don’t dare to leave because of the fighting. In addition, supply difficulties are becoming increasingly apparent. “It is hot in the country and there is a lack of water and food,” the expert explains.

And the little ones and young people can feel that. But according to Kurtz, there are other dangers—particularly for girls and young women. According to the expert, there are reports of increasing gender-based violence on the ground.

Risk of sexual violence is increasing

The situation in Sudan is becoming increasingly precarious, especially for girls and young women. Kurtz says:

They are also increasingly exposed to sexual violence while on the run. Media reports speak of about 10,000 people currently on the run. According to Kurtz, this number is too low. According to him, the United Nations assumes that some 20,000 people alone have fled to areas south of the Sudanese capital Khartoum.

RSF probably uses child soldiers

Young men are also fleeing, says Kurtz. So far he has not received any reports of additional recruitment by the warring factions. In addition, young men probably no longer voluntarily participate in the fighting.

What Kurtz caught, however, was a video from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group.

He says:

In Sudan, de facto president Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who is also the commander-in-chief of the army, wants to use the army to oust his deputy Mohammed Hamdan Daglo, the leader of the RSF. The two had taken over leadership of the country through two joint military coups in 2019 and 2021. In 2018, young people in Sudan still hoped for democratic change.

Young people in Sudan are committed to a democratic movement

The majority of the approximately 46 million Sudanese inhabitants are still young. “And it was these young people who made a huge contribution to the democratic movement at the time,” Kurtz explains.

Even now, in the middle of the fighting, young people remain active in the country. According to Kurtz, they provide safe escape routes from the disputed areas or try to provide people with food and medicine as best they can.

“Young people in Sudan take a lot of responsibility and have a lot to offer,” says Kurtz. According to him, the current violence in Sudan could also be aimed at the growing influence of young people.

He says:

Because the previous government under dictator Omar al-Bashir had already felt the power of the youth in the country. He was ousted as Sudan’s president in 2019 after protracted protests. “It was mainly young people who took to the streets. However, the transitional civil-military government that followed was not what they had hoped for,” says Kurtz.

But he is sure that the courage of young people in the protests will continue to play a role in the future. However, the violent power struggle in the country now puts a great deal on the road to democracy. “A possible civil war would be very dramatic for young people,” says Kurtz.

The outcome of the power struggle in Sudan is uncertain

A sustainable ceasefire is only possible if the parties to the conflict realize that none of them can quickly win militarily. “But if they sense a chance of victory, we will have to prepare for prolonged fighting in Sudan,” predicts Kurtz.

The UN Special Envoy to Sudan, Volker Perthes, says he is still in regular contact with the rival generals in Sudan. However, both the Supreme Commander of the Army al-Burhan and the leader of the RSF, Daglo, would still make mutual accusations. They give little hope that the crisis will be resolved quickly.

Perthes said at the UN Security Council meeting:

Perthes calls on both sides to comply with the obligations of international humanitarian law and to ensure the protection of civilian populations and civilian infrastructure.

UN mediator does not trust ceasefire

Perthes drew mixed conclusions about the ceasefire that has actually been in effect since Tuesday evening. The ceasefire, it seems, has so far held out “in some parts” of the country. However, in the capital Khartoum, fighting around the Palace of the Republic, the international airport and the headquarters and bases of the army and RSF “continued largely or in some cases intensified”.