The war in Sudan has reached a decisive and deeply dangerous moment. In late October, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) seized El Fashir in North Darfur after an 18-month siege that left residents cut off from food, water, and medicine. Since then, conditions have only worsened. The UN-backed hunger monitor (IPC) has declared famine in both El Fashir and Kadugli in South Kordofan, the first time urban centers in Sudan have been classified in “Phase 5” famine conditions. Civilians who survived bombardment and severe shortages now face mass displacement, targeted killings, and the collapse of essential services. People are already dying from starvation and preventable diseases.
Tens of thousands are fleeing under extreme conditions, and reports of mass executions, sexual violence, and blocked aid continue to surface. Independent monitors warn that the window to prevent mass death is rapidly closing, and the UN Secretary-General has said the war is spiraling out of control.
Humanitarian access has been weaponized. Aid convoys have been looted or blocked, and civilians prevented from escaping violence or receiving lifesaving care. This deliberate starvation of civilians is a grave violation of international humanitarian law.
The devastation has also been intensified by outside actors. The United Arab Emirates has supplied weapons, funding, and support to the RSF, enabling brutal attacks and worsening civilian suffering. This backing has fueled the war, empowered atrocities, and helped shut off the aid people need to survive.
The blockade of aid, destruction of infrastructure, and targeted violence have turned this conflict into a full-scale humanitarian collapse. In Darfur and Kordofan, children are dying of starvation, communities lie in ruins, and faith-based groups are among those suffering most. Entire regions risk being driven into mass displacement and death.
Congress has an important role to play. S.935/H.R. 2059 would prohibit U.S. arms sales and export licenses to the United Arab Emirates until the administration certifies that the UAE is no longer supporting the RSF. This legislation would increase pressure on those fueling the conflict and help align U.S. policy with the protection of civilians. Lawmakers should cosponsor and advance S.935/H.R. 2059 as a concrete step toward ending this devastating war.
Contact your members of Congress today and urge them to speak up for Sudan.
The suffering of the Sudanese people demands urgent attention. As Christians, silence is not an option while people endure starvation, violence, and persecution. Grounded in the belief that every human life is sacred, Christians are called to stand with the displaced, the hungry, and the persecuted. The United States has the diplomatic, humanitarian, and moral responsibility to act now to help end this suffering.