Food price hikes and grievances for 30 years of rule led to demonstrations in 2018. These led to removal of then-President Omar Hassan El-Bashir and formation of a Transitional Government in 2019 that carried out economic and social reforms and engaged in peace negotiations with armed groups. The Juba Peace Agreement was signed with nearly all armed opposition groups (Oct. 2020).
Due to the military takeover in 2021, government structures were dissolved and terms of the 2019 constitutional charter suspended. In 2022, the Prime Minister stepped down and an agreement was signed between the military and political parties in an attempt to relaunch the country’s transition to civilian government and hold elections. A next phase aimed at reaching consensus on issues was deadlocked until April 2023, when conflict resulted between Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces.
Escalating conflict since then disrupted lives, damaged infrastructure, strained the economy and transformed into the largest displacement crisis in the world. The UN indicates that as of August 2025, 14 million people were displaced within Sudan or to neighboring countries. About 26 million people face acute hunger (50% of the population) and the healthcare system is severely impacted, with most hospitals out of service. In February 2025, the UN launched a $6 billion humanitarian and refugee response plan.