Sudan warring parties concealing imminent famine, political leader says

November 12, 2026 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s warring parties are actively attempting to conceal an unfolding famine across the country despite bearing primary responsibility for the catastrophe, a prominent political leader said on Thursday.

Yasir Arman, leader of the SPLM Revolutionary Democratic Current (SPLM-RDC), warned in statements to Sudan Tribune that millions of civilians face starvation amid widespread economic collapse and the near-total failure of the agricultural season.

Arman said the conflict has driven the mass displacement of farmers and pastoralists while destroying vital infrastructure across major production zones.

He also cited ongoing sieges of cities, attacks on electricity and water facilities, the targeting of local markets, and the absence of humanitarian corridors as key factors accelerating the crisis.

The political leader criticized international food security bodies and early warning monitors for maintaining what he termed an unjustifiable silence over the scale of the emergency.

He accused specialized agencies and non-governmental groups of failing to publicly release data, statistics, and reports in their possession regarding Sudan’s food insecurity.

Making this information public is essential to mobilize regional and international pressure on the rival factions, Arman said.

He urged global bodies to push both sides to formally declare a famine and agree to a humanitarian ceasefire, allowing life-saving supplies to reach civilians who continue to bear the brunt of the war.

The warning comes as United Nations agencies describe Sudan’s humanitarian crisis as one of the worst in modern history. Recent assessments indicate that more than 33 million people require humanitarian assistance, with displacement surpassing 11 million people both internally and into neighbouring countries.

UN relief teams have repeatedly cautioned that acute food shortages and severe funding shortfalls have left millions at imminent risk of starvation, as vital aid pipelines dry up across Darfur, Kordofan, and central Sudan.

The collapse of basic services has been compounded by an escalating campaign of drone strikes by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces targeting critical civilian infrastructure. In recent weeks, RSF drone attacks have systematically struck key electricity substations across several states, including power facilities in Al-Jazirah, Sennar, White Nile, and Gedaref.

The resulting blackouts have paralyzed hospital operations, crippled municipal water pumping stations, and cut off power to irrigation networks, further devastating local food production and deepening civilian hardship.