In the context of the war in Sudan, General Hemedti’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have tightened their grip on El-Fasher. As capital of Western Darfur, this city holds significant strategic and symbolic importance in the ongoing conflict. Strategically, ElFasher represents the last stronghold in the region still under the control of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). Its capture would grant Hemedti’s paramilitary forces control over the entire region, potentially allowing them to establish an autonomous geopolitical entity. According to some sources, seizing the region would also strengthen the RSF’s logistics chain, securing supply lines from eastern Libya and Chad. Symbolically, El-Fasher was the epicenter of the Darfur genocide, and the international community fears that its recapture could lead to renewed ethnic cleansing. The RSF’s tactics in their bid to take the city leave little doubt in this regard. Bombardments of healthcare facilities have become constant, and the suffering of the civilian population has prompted the UN Security Council to pass a resolution calling for a humanitarian ceasefire amid the offensive. Despite the dire news from El-Fasher, the regular armed forces do not appear to be focusing their efforts on retaking Darfur at the moment. Instead, the SAF continues to mobilize the bulk of its men and equipment towards the city of Omdurman, the main route to recapturing the capital, Khartoum. Al-Burhan’s plans hinge on this move to ensure the total recognition of the Sovereign Council as the only legitimate government of the country. In this context, the regular forces aim to capitalize on the Russian arms supplies expected to arrive at Port Sudan in the coming weeks, following an agreement with Moscow for the use of a port on the Red Sea. Meanwhile, the UN has officially recognized Sudan as an area affected by a major food crisis. June also saw significant protests in Kenya. After weeks of demonstrations against the government of William Ruto, the toll includes more than 200 arrests, 24 deaths, and dozens of injuries. The protests, led by Kenyan Gen Z, called for the cancellation of the financial bill proposed by Ruto’s government, which included substantial tax increases, including those on fuel and digital transactions. The demonstrations culminated in an assault on the Kenyan parliament on June 25, when protesters broke through police security and occupied parts of the building for several hours before being evicted. The protests were met with widespread violence by law enforcement, who in some cases opened fire on the crowd, drawing harsh condemnation from the international community. In this context, the Kenyan judiciary has taken a stand against the use of force by the police, opening several investigations into the security forces. In response to the protests, Ruto initially sought to calm the situation by acknowledging the reasons behind the demonstrations and expressing his willingness to work with his opponents. However, he later described the protesters as wealthy, bored youths or even criminals. The president then deployed the army to defend key state buildings, while the international community, led by the USA, pressured the government to stop the violent repression of the protests and listen to the people’s grievances. Ruto eventually withdrew the financial bill, leaving the public finance dilemma unresolved. Given the current state of Kenya’s finances, the government will need to find additional liquidity for the treasury, a crucial prerequisite for unlocking International Monetary Fund aid. Meanwhile, the mobilization continues, with protesters, emboldened by the withdrawal of the budget bill, now calling for the president’s resignation.
As the clashes continue in Sudan, it is increasingly necessary to find a solution for the sake of the People. An analysis by Akinyi Omondi
While clashes between SAF and RSF continue, internally displaced persons are on the rise, as well as international migrants and people in need of food, water and medicine. Other sources of concern are the role of Moscow and the ever-present threat of terrorism.
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is a strategic infrastructure for the future of Ethiopia, which however represents an element of tension between the countries located along the river Nile.
Head of state | Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (Chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council) |
Head of Government | Osman Hussein |
Institutional Form | Federal provisional government |
Capital | Khartoum |
Legislative Power | Transitional Legislative Council |
Judicial Power | National Supreme Court (70 judges divided in panels of 3 judges); Constitutional Court (9 judges) |
Ambassador to Italy | Sayed Altayeb Ahmed |
Total Area kmq | 1,886,068 km2 |
Land | 1.731.671 km2 |
Weather | Rainy in the south, dry in the central and northern part of the country. Sudan's rainy season lasts for about four months (June to September) in the north, and up to six months (May to October) in the south |
Natural resources | oil, land and hydroelectric energy |
Economic summary | The Sudanese economy suffers prolonged social conflict and the loss of 3/4 of its oil production due to the secession of South Sudan; the country struggles to stabilise its economy and offse the loss of foreign exchange earnings. It’s the world’s largest exporter of gum arabic, and it produces 75-80% of the world’s total production; about 80% of workforce is employed in agriculture. |
GDP | $34.33 billion (Dec. 2021) |
Pro-capite GDP (Purchasing power parity) | $3839 (Dec. 2021) |
Exports | $4.03 billion (2020) |
Export partner | UAE 46.1%, China 19%, India 6.3%, Saudi Arabia 5.98%, Italy 4.06% Egypt 3.55% (2020) |
Imports | $8.58 billion (2020) |
Import partner | China 29.3%, UAE 13.3%, India 12.2%, Saudi Arabia 7.51%, Egypt 5.51%, Russia 4.14% (2020) |
Trade With Italy | $ 300 million (2021) |
Population | 47.958.856 (2022) |
Population Growth | 2,55% (2022 est.) |
Ethnicities | Sudanese Arab 70%, Beja 5.5%, Nuba 2.5%, Fur 2%, Egyptian 1.2%, Fulani 0.5%, other 18.34% |
Languages | Arabic and English (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, Fur |
Religions | Sunni Islam, small Christian minority |
Urbanization | 36% (2022) |
Literacy | 60.7% |
Sudan, whose independence dates back to 1956, is a state located in Northeastern Africa. The country borders to the north with Egypt and Libya, to the west with Chad, to the southwest with the Central African Republic, to the south with South Sudan, to the southeast with Ethiopia and to the east with Eritrea and the Red Sea. The population is about 48 million and the official languages are Arabic and English.
Once the largest country in Africa, after 2011 Sudan had to give up a big portion of its territory to the newly formed state of South Sudan. The secession of South Sudan deprived the country of three-quarters of its oil production, and the economy is experiencing difficulties.
Although trade volumes between Italy and Sudan remain low, in the last few years, Italy has had a highly positive trade balance and ranks second among the country’s main European trade partners, after Germany. As the economy is still largely focused on farming, agriculture is the sector in which there are the strongest relations between the two countries. Following the removal of US sanctions, many Italian companies have started seeing Sudan as a potentially interesting market.
Italy also contributes to various humanitarian initiatives, especially in the eastern regions of the country.