Imperialist Intervention in the Shadow of the Escalation of the Civil War

Communists in Sudan 18 May 2026

The civil war in Sudan has escalated in recent weeks. New attacks by the army and rebels have displaced hundreds of thousands of people from their homes. The Sudanese army launched an offensive in the capital Khartoum area about three weeks ago, and in response, the rebels launched their own offensive in the Darfur region, in which hundreds of people were killed. 400,000 people have fled the Zamzam refugee camp in the south of the country, due to the spread of hunger and the approach of rebel forces.

The civil war that broke out in Sudan about two years ago has so far claimed the lives of tens of thousands and turned about 12 million people into refugees. The war was preceded by the overthrow of dictator Omar al-Bashir in a popular revolution that broke out in December 2018. Since then, the Sudanese army has struggled to hold on to power while turning its back on the popular demand for the establishment of a democratic regime. In April 2023, the war broke out between the army and the "Rapid Intervention" militia, after its members rejected the government's order to disband the armed organization and integrate its members into the Sudanese army.

Following the current escalation in the war, the Sudanese Communist Party published a document analyzing the political situation in the country. The document states: "Despite the achievements of the anti-revolutionary forces in suppressing the popular movement, the December [2018] revolution is deeply embedded in the collective consciousness of Sudanese society. The only way to escape the cycle of backwardness, poverty, and dependence in which the country has been trapped since its independence in 1956 is through radical national liberation."

Communists against the war
According to the document, "The coup in October 2021 and the war that broke out in April 2023 failed to achieve their goals. The Sudanese people categorically reject any attempt to legitimize the leaders of the coup or their political and military organizations. The Sudanese have demonstrated determination in their opposition to both warring parties, who are committing war crimes and crimes against humanity with a brutality bordering on genocide."

The document further states: "Civilians are being targeted and systematically attacked through massive bombings. Educational and health institutions, along with essential infrastructure such as electricity, water and communications, have been systematically destroyed. In the face of this destruction, the Sudanese people remain determined in their struggle against the two regimes, which are linked to each other by their reliance on violence, looting and terrorism. Both sides in the conflict are guilty of the forced displacement of the civilian population, the looting of property at gunpoint and the violent expropriation of land. These actions have led to the collapse of entire sectors, including agriculture, industry, public services and banks. This situation is responsible for deep hunger and a sharp increase in infant mortality due to the complete collapse of the health system and the lack of basic livelihoods."

The Communist Party also accused: "The warring parties openly encourage ethnic-based hatred and racism through major media platforms. Furthermore, they have sown fear by distributing videos of horrific crimes, as part of a calculated strategy to create chaos and prepare the ground for a political solution based on a military dictatorship hostile to the aspirations of the people."

"The experience of the past two years has unequivocally proven that the two warring parties are nothing more than two sides of the same coin. The ongoing war does not hide their shared role in advancing an anti-revolutionary agenda. Since the fall of al-Bashir, regional and international forces – led by the United States – have sought to create a partnership between the Sudanese army and certain civilian factions in order to protect the interests of the elite from radical change. However, these forces are failing to stop the fighting, and offer only 'concern' in view of the deepening humanitarian crisis in Sudan, which international sources recognize as one of the most serious in modern history," it said.

"The Sudanese people continue to oppose any de facto government – ​​both the one centered in Port Sudan and the one that expands through the use of military force. Without national consensus, none of the authorities can be considered legitimate. Recognizing one of the warring parties would be a betrayal of the sacrifice of the martyrs and the millions who took to the streets demanding freedom and justice," they emphasized.

Towards an imperialist arrangement
The Sudanese Communist Party indicates a change in the US position towards the war. Both warring parties are suffering from military and economic exhaustion, despite the extensive external aid they have received. The US fears the conflict will escalate into a regional war that will destabilize pro-US regimes and directly threaten US interests – especially in international shipping lanes in the Red Sea.

The US has revived the channels of negotiations taking place in the Gulf states, hinted at imposing sanctions, and begun supporting efforts to establish a civilian government that would lead humanitarian aid efforts and the reconstruction of the country. But the communists point out that "this government is nothing more than a civilian cover for a military-neoliberal regime that seeks to restore the old order, while protecting the interests of global capital in Sudan and thwarting any real project of national liberation."

Against this backdrop, the party recognizes that the warring parties are striving to achieve a political solution that will stop the revolution, strengthen the capitalist system, and empower the elites. "In the face of these developments, we are working to establish a broad popular front aimed at realizing the slogans of the revolution: freedom, peace, and justice," it said.

The communists stressed: "It is essential to unite the revolutionary forces committed to real change around a clear and uncompromising program of struggle. The struggle for a free and democratic Sudan cannot progress through compromises with the enemies of the people, but through standing up for rights and rebuilding the state from its foundations - based on the principles of social justice and equality." They added: "We call for action among the masses - to listen to their fears, to act to satisfy their needs, and to build popular organizations to struggle in neighborhoods, villages and workplaces, and not to give in to the machinations of elitist politics. We emphasize that the real victory will be achieved in the streets and not in the negotiating rooms. The Sudanese people have the strength needed to overcome the crisis in their unity, their unwavering will and their steadfast sacrifice."
https://zoha.org.il/129681

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