Sudan’s War Still Misunderstood After Three Years

As April 15, 2026, marks the third anniversary of the outbreak of war in Sudan, a critical reassessment of the conflict's narrative is emerging. While international discourse often frames the violence as a power struggle between two military leaders—one commanding the national army and the other leading the Rapid Support Forces—many Sudanese citizens argue this perspective fundamentally misses the point. According to local voices and experts featured in this Al Jazeera report, the conflict is more accurately described as a deliberate war on civilians rather than a conventional political or military rivalry. The article highlights insights from political analyst Kholood Khair and researcher Hend Kheiralla, who discuss how the simplified general-versus-general narrative obscures the severe humanitarian crisis and systematic targeting of the population. This analysis underscores the disconnect between external perceptions and the lived realities of Sudanese people, emphasizing the need for a deeper understanding of the war's true nature and its devastating impact on civil society.