France24 begins broadcasting a series of reports on the situation in Sudan on Monday, produced by its special envoy Mohamed Farhat, who managed to enter the country that has been experiencing a civil war since April 2023. France24 documents the suffering of the population, especially the displaced who have been affected by the lack of humanitarian aid and the escalation of conflict everywhere. Here is an interview with Mohamed Farhat, in which he paints a faithful picture of what is happening on the ground.
Since the outbreak of war in April 2023 between the Sudanese army led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as “Hemedti”, this resource-rich country has been experiencing a humanitarian crisis and bloody conflicts that have caused widespread destruction and large-scale displacement of the population.
The war began following escalating tensions between the two sides over control of power and their respective roles in the transitional phase that the country hoped would lead to stability after the overthrow of former President Omar al-Bashir’s regime in 2019.
Reports from UN humanitarian organizations and NGOs indicate that more than 8 million people have been displaced within the country and another 2 million have fled to neighboring countries such as Egypt, Chad, Kenya, and Uganda. The war between Sudanese factions has resulted in the deaths of about 20,000 people.
France24’s envoy Mohamed Farhat visited Sudan where he prepared reports on the situation in this divided country, especially after the announcement of the formation of a parallel government in Kenya including representatives of the Rapid Support Forces and other Sudanese organizations. In this interview, he recounts the working conditions in several cities such as Port Sudan, Bahri, and Omdurman, providing a realistic and true picture of the internal situation.
The interview covers topics such as the challenges of traveling and filming in Sudan, the current security and humanitarian situation, the focus of battles and their impact on civilians, the strategic city of Port Sudan, the situation in Khartoum, why Sudanese have not reached a political settlement, the role of neighboring countries, and the formation of a parallel Sudanese government in Kenya. Farhat also discusses whether Sudan is heading towards partition.
Farhat describes the humanitarian situation as catastrophic, especially with the stoppage of aid, particularly American aid. He notes the spread of diseases like cholera and severe malnutrition among children, warning of a major humanitarian disaster. He also highlights the difficult living conditions in Port Sudan, which has become Sudan’s new capital, and the ongoing battles in and around Khartoum.
