How the Sudan Crisis Threatens the Entire Sahel

The ongoing fighting in Sudan is driving thousands to flee. The humanitarian emergency is spreading, creating a dangerous security situation in the Sahel, experts warn. Tens of thousands of civilians have fled, and the United Nations (UN) has warned of a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, which could spill over into neighbouring countries.

The fighting has had devastating humanitarian consequences in Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR), said the top United Nations (UN) envoy for Central Africa on Monday. Chad and the CAR have received 100,000 and 10,000 Sudanese refugees respectively, said Abdou Abarry, the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative and head of the UN Regional Office for Central Africa. Another danger is proliferation of small arms which cross Sudan's over porous borders and may even reach as far afield as Mali and Burkina Faso, Henrik Maihack of the Friedrich Ebert Institute fears.

Armed groups already operate in those countries, and new weapons would lead to worse security situation in the Sahel, according to Maihack. He warns the Sudan crisis could fuel "two crisis regions": in the Horn of Africa and the Sahel. UN Special Representative Volker Perthes also recently told DW that the fighting in Sudan attracts "opportunists and mercenaries," who seek to enrich themselves. He has been declared 'Perona No Grata' in the country. The move comes after army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan accused him of inflaming the fighting between the warring factions .

Since the 15 April outbreak of hostilities in Sudan, the civilian population has been bearing the brunt. Nearly 1.4 million people have been displaced. Of these, 330,000 have crossed into neighbouring countries. Chad - already a fragile country itself - is one. Around 90,000 Sudanese refugees have entered Chad since the conflict began. The new arrivals have added to 600,000 mostly Sudanese refugees already in Chad after fleeing previous conflicts, especially in the Darfur region.

The U.S. and Saudi Arabia on Wednesday submitted a proposal to the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for a new, 24-hour ceasefire under 'rigorous surveillance'. Medical facilities are sounding the alarm bell over shortages of medicines for patients suffering from chronic diseases. The RSF is occupying more than 40 hospitals and health facilities.

Another danger is proliferation of small arms which cross Sudan's over porous borders and may even reach as far afield as Mali and Burkina Faso, Henrik Maihack of the Friedrich Ebert Institute fears.

Armed groups already operate in those countries, and new weapons would lead to worse security situation in the Sahel, according to Maihack. He warns the Sudan crisis could fuel "two crisis regions": in the Horn of Africa and the Sahel.

UN Special Representative Volker Perthes also recently told DW that the fighting in Sudan attracts "opportunists and mercenaries," who seek to enrich themselves. He has been declared 'Perona No Grata' in the country. The move comes after army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan accused him of inflaming the fighting between the warring factions .

Since the 15 April outbreak of hostilities in Sudan, the civilian population has been bearing the brunt. Nearly 1.4 million people have been displaced. Of these, 330,000 have crossed into neighbouring countries.

Chad - already a fragile country itself - is one. Around 90,000 Sudanese refugees have entered Chad since the conflict began. The new arrivals have added to 600,000 mostly Sudanese refugees already in Chad after fleeing previous conflicts, especially in the Darfur region.

The U.S. and Saudi Arabia on Wednesday submitted a proposal to the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for a new, 24-hour ceasefire under 'rigorous surveillance'. Medical facilities are sounding the alarm bell over shortages of medicines for patients suffering from chronic diseases. The RSF is occupying more than 40 hospitals and health facilities.