The Conflict in Sudan: Background, Realities, and Possible Futures

In April 2023, civil war exploded in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum. The fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces have killed thousands, displaced millions, and devolved into the world’s greatest humanitarian crisis. In January 2025, the US State Department officially determined that it had documented evidence of genocide. Why did the civil war break out? What is the present situation, and what factors may determine a speedy or delayed end to the conflict? Christopher Tounsel, Associate Professor of History and Director of African Studies at the University of Washington, will discuss the civil war’s historical context, important features of the crisis, and offer perspective on the country's uncertain future.

Host or Publisher Detroit Mercy African American Studies Program