Sudan’s civil war is shattering the centuries old way of life of nomadic communities, as growing insecurity, banditry, and ethnic divisions trap families who once moved freely across vast desert regions.

Gubara al-Basheer and his family used to traverse Sudan’s arid landscapes with their camels and livestock, travelling between markets, seasonal pastures, and vital water sources. Today, those traditional migration routes have become dangerous or completely inaccessible, cut off by fighting between rival armed groups and rising criminal activity.

Nomads say the breakdown of security has left them increasingly vulnerable to armed robbery, cattle theft, and attacks driven by ethnic tensions inflamed by the conflict. Many have been forced to settle in unfamiliar areas or near towns, often without access to adequate food, water, or healthcare. Others risk dangerous journeys through contested territory to keep their herds alive.

Aid agencies warn that the disruption of nomadic life is worsening Sudan’s humanitarian crisis, as pastoral communities lose livelihoods that have sustained them for generations. The war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces has fragmented authority across the country, leaving vast rural areas lawless and beyond the reach of protection or assistance.

For families like al-Basheer’s, the conflict has not only taken away safety but also eroded cultural traditions rooted in movement, resilience, and coexistence with the land a loss that may prove difficult to reverse even after the fighting ends.