Sudan is currently facing a cholera epidemic that has claimed the lives of 22 people and sickened hundreds more, according to Health Minister Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim. The outbreak has been attributed to contaminated drinking water and adverse weather conditions. This is not the first time Sudan has experienced a cholera outbreak, as a similar incident in 2017 resulted in 700 deaths and 22,000 illnesses in less than two months.
To make matters worse, devastating floods have swept through the country, causing dozens of fatalities and displacing approximately 118,000 individuals. These challenges have been exacerbated by an ongoing civil war that erupted in April 2020 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. The conflict has left thousands dead, displaced over 10.7 million people, and led to famine in certain regions.
Despite the tumultuous situation, efforts are being made to bring about peace in Sudan. Talks to end the 16-month conflict have begun in Switzerland, with multiple international entities working to facilitate a ceasefire. The United States, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, the African Union, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Nations are all involved in these peace negotiations.
In response to mounting pressure from the US, Sudan’s military-controlled sovereign council has agreed to send a government delegation to Cairo for discussions with American officials. The hope is that these talks will pave the way for the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces to participate in the ceasefire discussions in Switzerland.
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