Sudan’s devastating civil war, now grinding through its third year, has escalated into one of the world’s most acute humanitarian and diplomatic crises. The conflict, which erupted in April 2023 as a power struggle between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has left a trail of destruction, displacement, and famine across the nation. As the violence intensifies, Sudanese diplomats are issuing increasingly urgent pleas to the international community—particularly Europe—to reconsider their approach, warning that current policies risk deepening the catastrophe.
On November 6, 2025, Sudan’s ambassador to the European Union, Abdelbagi Kabeir, delivered a stark message at Press Club Brussels Europe. “The war has led to a huge loss of human life and destruction of the infrastructure,” he told reporters, painting a bleak picture of a country ravaged by violence. According to Kabeir, Sudan’s infrastructure has been decimated, cities have emptied, and millions are being pushed toward the brink of famine. He described the situation as both a humanitarian disaster and a diplomatic failure, urging the EU to shift away from punitive sanctions and toward what he called “constructive engagement.”
The numbers underscore the scale of suffering. More than 150,000 people have been killed, and approximately 12 million have been displaced—10.7 million internally, including around 3 million from the capital, Khartoum, and another 1.5 million scattered across neighboring countries. “There is now a dire humanitarian and economic situation in Sudan,” Kabeir emphasized, noting that the war has not spared his own home and that sexual violence has been weaponized in the conflict. The ambassador’s remarks echoed a warning from UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who recently stated the war was “spiralling out of control” and that people were dying “of malnutrition, disease and violence.”
Across Sudan, the fighting between former allies—who initially joined forces in a coup but later split over a transition to civilian rule—has devastated agriculture, severed supply lines, and turned vast swathes of the country into battlegrounds. Nearly 25 million people, about half the population, now face severe food insecurity, with more than 600,000 experiencing famine-level conditions, according to UN figures. Humanitarian organizations like Médecins Sans Frontières have managed to keep aid flowing into the Port of Sudan, but moving supplies beyond the port is fraught with danger. “The problem is that this desperately needed aid and food is often just stuck there at the port,” Kabeir explained. “All the necessary clearances have been completed, but the current huge challenge is how to guarantee the safety of humanitarian aid workers taking the food to targeted civilians around the country.” Looting and insecurity further compound these challenges, making the delivery of assistance perilous.
The war’s latest bloody chapter unfolded in El-Fasher, the last army stronghold in Darfur, which the RSF seized after weeks of siege and mass killings. According to SwissInfo, satellite images revealed blood-stained streets, and rights groups warned of ethnic massacres and starvation reminiscent of Darfur’s darkest days. On October 28, 2025, a hospital attack in El-Fasher killed more than 460 patients and family members, and the city’s maternity hospital was struck five times that month. “No patient or family member should fear for their lives as they seek health care, and health workers should not risk injury or death while saving lives,” said Teresa Zakaria, head of humanitarian operations at the World Health Organization, on October 31. Less than half of Sudan’s health facilities remain functional as of late 2025.
Sudan’s ambassador to the United Nations Office in Geneva, Hassan Hamid, did not mince words during a press briefing on November 4, 2025. “International silence has enabled genocide,” he declared, blaming the world’s inaction for the tragedy in El-Fasher. Hamid also pointed to the international dimension of the conflict, highlighting the role of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as a key hub for Sudan’s lucrative gold trade—a trade that, according to NGOs and experts, helps finance the war. “The supplier of weapons to the Rapid Support Forces is well known. Unfortunately, it is the United Arab Emirates,” Hamid stated.
Bern-based NGO Swissaid has been vocal in drawing attention to the UAE’s central role in Sudan’s gold economy. The organization reports that the UAE imported about 90% of Sudan’s official gold exports in the first half of 2025, with 29 tonnes coming directly from Sudan in 2024, and additional volumes routed through Egypt, Chad, and Libya. SwissInfo notes that profits from this “blood gold” are widely seen as a key source of funding for both the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), perpetuating the conflict. Marc Ummel, head of commodities at Swissaid, put it bluntly: “Whether it is coming from RSF or from the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). It’s clear that they are funding their engagement in the conflict with this trade of gold, although there are other elements, gold is the key element in Sudan.”
Switzerland, too, finds itself entangled in this web. Between January and September 2025, Switzerland imported 316 tonnes of gold worth CHF27 billion from the UAE—more than double the annual average since 2015. Swissaid warns this surge raises concerns about sanction loopholes, as the true origin of gold imported from the UAE is often obscured. “It is clear that we have a loophole here in the implementation of the sanctions. There is a risk that this gold has been imported in violation of the sanctions against Sudan and the Swiss authorities should investigate this,” Ummel told SwissInfo.
In response, Switzerland plans to introduce a public register in 2026 to disclose more information about the origin of metals processed in the country. However, Swissaid cautions that the measure may have limited impact, as major refineries like Valcambi—which sources gold from the UAE—are not part of the association managing the register. Valcambi insists it has robust responsible sourcing procedures, including blockchain-based tracking, and only accepts shipments from two approved UAE refineries. All major Swiss refineries are members of the London Bullion Market Association and must comply with OECD due diligence standards, but Swissaid and the European Commission have raised ongoing concerns about traceability and transparency.
Meanwhile, the EU’s response to Sudan’s crisis has centered on sanctions. On September 25, 2025, member states extended restrictive measures targeting ten individuals and eight entities accused of destabilizing Sudan and obstructing its political transition. These sanctions, now set to run until October 10, 2026, include travel bans, asset freezes, and prohibitions on making funds or economic resources available to those listed. EU officials argue that the sanctions are meant to pressure the warring parties toward a ceasefire and a political solution. But Ambassador Kabeir is adamant: “These measures will, and do not, help create stability in Sudan and, additionally, nor will they do anything to improve relations between Sudan and the EU. The EU could and should have chosen a different path.” He called the measures “unjust” and “uncalled for,” warning they could obstruct efforts to find peace.
Kabeir and Hamid both urge Europe to move beyond punitive measures and embrace constructive engagement—coordinating more closely with humanitarian actors, securing aid routes, and facilitating political dialogue. Kabeir, for his part, insists, “You can be very much instrumental in a partnership with us because we share so many platforms of cooperation. But, to maximise any gains from such a relationship, there ought to be more constructive engagement with Sudan.”
As famine tightens its grip and violence continues unabated, the choices facing Europe and the wider international community are stark. The fate of millions may hinge on whether policymakers opt for isolation and sanctions—or for renewed diplomatic and humanitarian engagement that could help steer Sudan away from the abyss.
