Skip to main content

Starving Amidst Promises: Sudan’s Hunger Crisis and the Collapse of Global Commitments

Image
By

 










As Sudan faces what humanitarian agencies are now calling the worst food security crisis in its history, the tragedy unfolding there is not merely a local or regional catastrophe, it is a stark indictment of a global system that continues to fail the most vulnerable. More than 30 million people across the country are in desperate need of food assistance, with conflict-ridden regions like Darfur, Khartoum, and Kordofan teetering on the brink of famine. The crisis serves as a chilling echo of past famines in the Horn of Africa and raises serious questions about the feasibility of achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly the goal of Zero Hunger.

The Conflict-Food Insecurity Nexus

The current food crisis in Sudan cannot be understood in isolation from the political and military turmoil that has gripped the country since April 2023. A brutal power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces has devastated livelihoods, disrupted planting and harvesting cycles, displaced over 12 million people, and blocked humanitarian access to the most affected areas. Agricultural infrastructure has been decimated, markets have collapsed, and inflation has rendered food unaffordable for millions.

Warring parties have also used starvation as a weapon of war, obstructing aid convoys and looting food supplies. This strategy not only violates international humanitarian law but also deepens the cycle of suffering, particularly for women and children who are the most vulnerable to malnutrition and food-borne diseases. Humanitarian actors are operating under extreme conditions, facing both security risks and funding gaps that further hamper their ability to respond effectively.

Infographic: Mapping the Conflict-Food Crisis Linkages

             UNDERLYING CAUSES OF CONFLICT
-------------------------------------------------------------
| - Political power struggles                        |
| - Historical grievances and marginalization        |
| - Ethnic and tribal tensions                       |
| - Weak governance and rule of law                  |
| - Resource competition (land, water, oil)          |
| - Climate shocks and environmental degradation     |
-------------------------------------------------------------
                          |
                          V
             INTENSIFIED ARMED CONFLICT
                          |
                          V
      IMPACT ON FOOD SECURITY & HUMANITARIAN ACCESS
-------------------------------------------------------------
| - Displacement of farming communities              |
| - Destruction of agricultural infrastructure       |
| - Looting of food stocks and seed reserves         |
| - Market disruption and economic collapse          |
| - Aid delivery blocked or delayed                  |
| - Inflation and food price spikes                  |
-------------------------------------------------------------
                          |
                          V
                 WIDESPREAD FOOD INSECURITY
                          |
                          V
          MALNUTRITION, STARVATION & FAMINE RISK

Historical Parallels: A Region Haunted by Recurring Catastrophes

Sudan’s food insecurity nightmare is disturbingly reminiscent of the famines that plagued the Horn of Africa in the 1980s and again in 2011. The 1984-85 Ethiopian famine, driven by drought, poor governance, and conflict, killed an estimated one million people and sparked a global outcry. More recently, the 2011 famine in Somalia, exacerbated by Al-Shabaab’s blockade of humanitarian aid, claimed over 250,000 lives—half of them children.

These catastrophes share a common thread: the lethal combination of environmental stressors and governance failure, compounded by inadequate international response. They underscore how food crises in the Horn of Africa are rarely caused by natural disasters alone, but rather by the intersection of conflict, economic fragility, and political marginalization.

Zero Hunger 2030: A Vision Out of Reach?

The Sustainable Development Goal 2—Zero Hunger by 2030—represents a noble aspiration. But for many countries in the Global South, including Sudan, it is rapidly becoming a mirage. The structural roots of hunger in these regions are deeply embedded in decades of underdevelopment, extractive colonial legacies, and ongoing global economic inequality.

Despite repeated pledges by international donors and institutions, the gap between promise and delivery remains gaping. The failure to provide consistent, long-term investment in resilient food systems, peacebuilding, and climate adaptation has left many states in perpetual crisis mode. In Sudan, chronic underfunding of humanitarian appeals, combined with the paralysis of the international diplomatic community, has created a vacuum in which hunger flourishes.

From Crisis Response to Structural Reform

To address Sudan's crisis and others like it, the international community must go beyond reactive humanitarianism. A sustainable solution lies in investing in the local agricultural economy, supporting inclusive governance, and ensuring equitable access to resources. Conflict resolution efforts must prioritize community-led peace processes and disarmament initiatives. Additionally, humanitarian funding mechanisms must be restructured to allow for greater flexibility and longer-term commitments.

If the world is serious about ending hunger by 2030, it must confront the uncomfortable truth that hunger is often man-made. It is the product of systemic neglect, geopolitical apathy, and the weaponization of food. Without political will and global solidarity, Sudan’s tragedy will not be the last.

Conclusion

Sudan's current food crisis is a devastating reminder of the fragility of progress in regions beset by conflict and underdevelopment. It exposes the hollow core of global promises when they are not backed by consistent action and equitable investment. As we approach 2030, the world must reckon with its failure to uphold its own development agenda—and with the lives lost because of it.


@TheSomaliDiary

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

"The Ripple Effect: How USAID Funding Cuts Threaten Somalia’s Fragile Stability"

By
Somalia’s Political, Security, and Economic Landscape  Somalia stands at a critical juncture, grappling with a complex mix of political instability, security threats, and economic fragility. The country, which has long suffered from civil conflict and weak governance structures, has made significant yet fragile progress in state-building. The federal government continues to struggle with power disputes among federal member states, clan-based rivalries, and delayed elections that hinder political stability.  On the security front, armed oppoaition groups remains a potent force, orchestrating frequent attacks on both civilian and military targets. Despite ongoing counterterrorism efforts by the Somali National Army (SNA) and the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), the militant group maintains control over strategic areas, disrupting governance and humanitarian operations.  Economically, Somalia faces a daunting reality. With a heavy reliance on external a...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Somali Political Crisis Explained: Elections, Opposition, and Security Challenges

By
Somalia’s Current Political Standoff: A Nation at a Crossroads As Somalia’s current government approaches the final year of its term, the political landscape is becoming increasingly charged and complex. The return of opposition leaders to Mogadishu has injected new energy into the capital, signalling a resurgence of political activity and mobilisation that is impossible to ignore. This renewed opposition presence underscores the growing momentum of political gatherings and movements, reflecting a palpable shift in the country’s political dynamics. The Government’s Vision: One Person, One Vote In response to the evolving political climate, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, alongside Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, the Speaker of the House of the People, and influential state leaders from Hirshabelle, Galmudug, and Southwest states, have announced the formation of a new political party. This coalition champions a transformative electoral vision grounded in the principle of “one man, one...
Post a Comment
Read more

The US Dollar A Common Currency In Somalia

By
The US dollar is a common currency in Somalia The US dollar is commonly used as a currency in Somalia, especially in urban areas and in international transactions. This is due to the instability of the Somali shilling, which has experienced significant inflation and devaluation over the years. The use of the US dollar in Somalia dates back to the early 1990s, when the country descended into civil war and the central government collapsed. Without a functioning central bank to issue and regulate its currency, Somalia has relied on foreign currencies, such as the US dollar, for trade and commerce. Additionally, many Somalis living abroad send remittances to their families in Somalia in US dollars, further contributing to the widespread use of the currency in the country. How has the use of the US dollar affected the Somali economy? The use of the US dollar in Somalia has had both positive and negative effects on the economy. Positive effects : - Stabilization: The US dollar has pro...
Post a Comment
Read more

"Proxy Power Plays: How Turkish and Emirati Private Military Deployments Signal a New Era of Militarized Influence in Somalia"

By
Somalia long a battleground for internal stability, is increasingly becoming a geopolitical chessboard for external powers. The recent arrival of Turkish-deployed private military personnel  in the south and UAE affliated security contractors in the northeast—marks a dangerous escalation in the militarization of Somali soil. These developments signal not just a new chapter in Somalia’s complex security story, but a stark warning: global and regional powers are using Somalia as a base for proxy operations in broader regional conflicts. Turkey’s Strategic Deployment in the South Under the guise of bilateral defense cooperation, Turkey has deployed trained mercenaries, many with combat experience in Syria and Libya, to Somalia. While officially tasked with supporting counterterrorism operations against Al-Shabaab, their presence suggests a deeper mission: protecting Turkish economic and political interests, projecting military power along the Gulf of Aden, and countering adversaries...
Post a Comment
Read more

🧭 The Walk of Shame for Going Back to the Tent

By
  🧭 The Walk of Shame for Going Back to the Tent Somalia’s Elusive One Man, One Vote Dream 📅 Published: June 2025 ✍️ By The Somali Diary Introduction For a nation that has spent the better part of two decades trying to untangle itself from conflict, fragmentation, and fragile governance, the promise of “one man, one vote” in Somalia was always more than a procedural ambition. It was a symbolic return to full citizenship , a path toward dignity and democratic legitimacy. But as Somalia stumbles toward another election cycle, the reality has become stark: the country is once again walking back to the "tent" — the indirect, clan-based electoral model. This isn’t just a compromise. To many, it is a national embarrassment . A walk of shame . The Idealism of One Man, One Vote The administration of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud came into office with a bold commitment to implement direct elections. In April 2023 , the Federal Government and four Federal Member States...
Post a Comment
Read more