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.

The conflict, which erupted in April 2023 between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced millions, and pushed large parts of the population toward famine. According to aid agencies, basic services have collapsed, healthcare systems are overwhelmed, and access to food, clean water, and shelter remains critically limited. The IRC warned that continued fighting, combined with restricted humanitarian access and severe funding shortfalls, has left civilians increasingly vulnerable.

The watchlist underscores how prolonged conflict, political instability, climate shocks, and economic collapse are converging to deepen humanitarian needs not only in Sudan but across multiple fragile states. The IRC urged the international community to step up diplomatic efforts to end the fighting and significantly increase humanitarian assistance, warning that failure to act will result in further loss of life and regional instability.

Trump described his planned intervention as a blend of diplomacy, strategic pressure, and economic leverage a formula he says mirrors his past involvement in crises in Gaza, Pakistan, and other global flashpoints. He emphasised that ending the violence in Sudan would not only help stabilise the region but also support broader U.S. and Saudi interests in the Horn of Africa.

The conflict in Sudan, which erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has devastated the nation. The fighting has displaced millions, collapsed essential services, and triggered one of the world’s worst humanitarian emergencies. International mediation efforts, including U.S.- and Saudi-brokered talks in Jeddah, have repeatedly broken down.

Trump’s latest commitment signals a potential return to stronger U.S. engagement after months of stalled negotiations and limited diplomatic traction. Analysts say Saudi Arabia’s request adds weight, given the kingdom’s influence in Sudan’s political and military landscape.

While specific steps were not detailed, Trump said the U.S. would use “every diplomatic and economic tool necessary” to push for a ceasefire and a long-term settlement.