The Sudan civil war has done more than devastate lives – it has dismantled the very systems that sustain them. Agriculture, once the backbone of the nation’s economy and a lifeline for millions, has been brought to its knees by years of violence. Yet the story doesn’t end there. The resulting food insecurity has become more than a humanitarian tragedy; it is a spark that reignites the very conflict that caused it. In Sudan, hunger and war are no longer isolated crises, but two sides of the same coin, locked in a vicious cycle that threatens to consume the country.
Sudan, Africa’s third-largest country, has endured decades of conflict and political instability, with the situation worsening after the 2019 ousting of longtime dictator Omar al-Bashir. Initially seen as a step toward democracy, the transition quickly unraveled as rival factions within the military vied for control. In April 2023, this power struggle escalated into a devastating civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), two military groups notorious for their blatant disregard of legal and ethical norms. The conflict has displaced over 11 million people, destroyed key infrastructure, and devastated the agricultural sector, which once employed a vast majority of the population. With millions of Sudanese now facing acute food insecurity, the nation teeters on the edge of collapse, locked in a cycle of violence and starvation.
The Collapse of Sudan’s Agricultural Sector
The disruption of Sudan’s agricultural sector stands as one of the most visible casualties of the civil war. In 2011, 80% of the country’s total workforce was employed in the agriculture sector. That number has since halved, with the war forcing many farmers to abandon their fields or flee to urban areas in search of safety. The drop in agricultural productivity also impacts food security, as reduced domestic production forces Sudan to rely more on imports, which are often inaccessible due to the rising costs of transportation and trade blockages caused by the war.
This agricultural devastation feeds directly into a worsening humanitarian crisis. In 2023, total cereal production plummeted to an estimated 4.1 million metric tons—a dramatic 46% decrease from pre-war levels. Early projections for 2024 suggest an additional decline of 18% to approximately 3.38 million metric tons. The continuous decrease in cereal production is a worrying trend, especially given that there seems to be no internal attempts from either the RSF or SAF to bolster the country’s food security.
The impact of Sudan’s agricultural collapse is grim – 26 million people, over half the country’s population, are now facing acute hunger. To put this into perspective, this is three times the population of New York City, making Sudan home to the largest hunger crisis in the world today.
Displacement is compounding the agricultural collapse: more than 11 million Sudanese have fled their homes, leaving their fields untended and their livelihoods destroyed. The conflict has rendered rural areas unsafe, and farmers are either fleeing or unable to cultivate their land due to the war. Many are relocating to dense urban centers, where resources are already stretched thin. In cities like Khartoum, competition for food, water, and basic goods has pushed many people into informal settlements, further fueling poverty and instability. As the urban population grows, it places additional strain on infrastructure and services, generating new flashpoints for conflict over limited resources.
A Conflict-Famine Feedback Loop
The displacement of Sudanese farmers due to conflict has created a devastating feedback loop that binds agricultural collapse to escalating hunger and violence. When farms and fields are destroyed, the food supply dwindles, exacerbating hunger. The resulting famine drives new recruits to join military forces, who then, in turn, attack more villages and destroy more farms, creating even more hunger.
In essence, it’s a simple chain reaction: violence ruins farms, hunger grows, and then hunger fuels more violence. Each step makes the next one worse, and the cycle keeps repeating. As long as the farms stay destroyed and the fighting continues, it’s almost impossible to stop the spiral of hunger and conflict
One particularly damaging consequence of this feedback loop is the spread of militia control over strategic agricultural zones. Both the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have used tactics such as blocking aid and raiding farms to extend their influence. As fertile agricultural land becomes controlled by militias, access to food becomes even more restricted, prompting further displacement and suffering. The absence of state authority in many rural areas has allowed armed groups to fill the power vacuum, often preying on vulnerable populations, exacerbating both the food crisis and the ongoing civil war.
The economic implications are also severe. In 2023, Sudan’s economy contracted by nearly 40%, largely due to disruptions in agriculture and trade, with much of the food supply reduced to imports that are now subject to extreme inflation. Rising costs of transportation and trade blockages have led to skyrocketing prices of essential goods, including staple foods, making them inaccessible to the majority of the population. The price of bread has increased by more than 200% since the war began, and once plentiful grains like cereals have become scarce.
The country’s inability to break this cycle of destruction, hunger, and violence has led to one of the worst humanitarian crises in recent history. In 2024, Sudan is projected to have the highest number of people in need of urgent humanitarian aid globally, with over 18 million individuals requiring immediate assistance.
Looking Ahead
To break the cycle, urgent action is required on multiple fronts. Humanitarian aid must be facilitated, with safe corridors for food and medicine established to prevent further starvation. International pressure on all factions involved to allow unfettered access to aid is critical in alleviating immediate suffering. At the same time, rebuilding Sudan’s agricultural infrastructure—particularly in areas where displaced farmers can return safely—will be crucial for long-term recovery. Local efforts to revive agriculture, supported by international partners, could offer the only sustainable way to break the cycle of violence and hunger. Additionally, improving the livelihoods of displaced people through job creation and access to education could help reduce the allure of militias, offering alternatives to those caught in the cycle of violence.
Ultimately, ending the Sudan civil war will require the dismantling of militia power structures and the restoration of state authority over the country’s agricultural and economic resources. Only by breaking the nexus of violence and famine can Sudan hope to move toward a secure and peaceful future.
