Sudan is one of the largest countries in Africa, with an area of over 1.86 million square kilometers and serves as a bridge between the north and south of the African continent. The country is located in eastern Africa. It is bordered by Egypt and Libi to the north, Chad and the Central African Republic to the west, Ethiopia and Uganda to the south, and the Red Sea to the east.
Sudan is a complex and multifaceted land, with a diverse geography ranging from arid deserts in the north to fertile plains in the center and mountains in the west. The Nile River, with its two tributaries, the Qing River and the White River, is the backbone of life for most of Sudan’s 48 million people. Despite this important geographical location, Sudan has been plagued by ethnic crisis, civil war, and structural poverty for decades. One of the epicenters of the crisis is the Darfur region in the country’s west, which is rich in resources but faces conflict and instability.
The city of Al-Fashir, the capital of North Darfur state, has become a symbol of conflict in recent years. The fall of Al Fashir city to the Rapid Support Force (RSF) in October 2025 changed the course of the war in western Sudan and raised fears of the country’s collapse. This fall was accompanied by war crimes and became one of the darkest chapters in Sudan’s history. This report examines the geographical situation of Sudan, Darfur and Fashir city and analyzes their role in economic, military, political and humanitarian aspects.
Geography of Sudan: A precarious bridge between Africa and the Arab world
Geographically, Sudan is divided into three main parts.
– The northern desert with the Nubian Desert and the arid region of Biar
– Fertile centers around the Nile and Gezira plains
– South and Southwest. The climate is warm and the vegetation is dense.
The country covers an area of over 1.86 million square kilometers and has an estimated population of approximately 48 million people. Population density is low (25 people per square kilometer), with a reported annual population growth rate of approximately 2.5%. Approximately two-thirds of the population lives in rural areas and makes a living mainly from agriculture and livestock raising.
Sudan’s economy was based on oil exports before the secession of the south, but gold, cotton, livestock, and agricultural products have since replaced the country’s main sources of income. However, due to the civil war and international sanctions, the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) has declined to about $30 billion.
From a geopolitical perspective, Sudan’s location is of strategic importance. It has long borders with seven countries, direct access to the Red Sea, and serves as a gateway between North Africa and the eastern part of the continent. This position makes the country constantly vulnerable to the influence of external actors. The Red Sea in the east is a link to the Middle East, and the borders with Chad and Libya in the west are routes for smuggling and military movement.
Clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) that began in April 2023 have torn apart the country’s political and geographical fabric. The eastern part of the country and the port of Port Sudan are currently under military control, while the western part, particularly Darfur, is under RSF influence. The war resulted in more than 10 million internally displaced persons and 2.3 million refugees in neighboring countries, and led to a famine crisis in several states.
Darfur: heartland of western Sudan, a land of resources and conflict
Darfur is one of Sudan’s largest states, with an area of approximately 510,000 square kilometers, accounting for almost one-fifth of the country. It borders Chad to the west, Libya to the north, Kordofan to the east, and the Central African Republic to the south. Darfur is a mixed desert and highland region, with an average altitude of about 700 meters above sea level. Annual rainfall is between 200 and 600 mm, but natural resources are limited due to frequent droughts and desertification.
Darfur’s population is estimated at between 8 million and 10 million people, approximately one-fifth of Sudan’s population. This diverse population is made up of over 80 ethnic groups. More than 70 percent of the population is engaged in agriculture and livestock farming, and approximately 20 percent of the country’s livestock are raised in this region.
Darfur is rich in natural resources. Gold mines in the region supply approximately 30 percent of Sudan’s gold production. In addition to gold, Darfur has also identified deposits of chromium, copper, and even trace amounts of uranium. Despite this potential, war and insecurity have hindered economic development, making Darfur one of the poorest regions in the country.
Darfur shares long borders with Chad and Libya, making it an important route for formal and informal trade. It is also a route for arms smuggling and immigration. Darfur has been embroiled in a bloody ethnic conflict since 2003 that has left more than 300,000 people dead and millions displaced, according to the United Nations. In the current conflict, the RSF, made up of former Janjaweed militias, controls most of Darfur province. Only the city of al-Fashir in northern Darfur remained in military hands for a long time, and it too recently suffered an unprecedented massacre.
Al-Fashir: North Darfur’s capital, a crossroads of crisis
Al Fashir, the capital of North Darfur state, is located 800 km west of Khartoum. The city, approximately 700 meters above sea level, is located on the main road connecting Darfur, Chad and Libya, and is considered a strategic strategic point. Al Fashir has a long history. It was the capital of the Kingdom of Darfur from the 17th to the 19th centuries, from which Sultan Ali Dinar ruled the region. Inscribed on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) list in 2023, the Sultan Ali Dinar Palace and Museum is a cultural symbol of the city. Although it suffered severe damage in the recent war.
Before the recent civil war, al-Fashir had a population of about 500,000 people, but a wave of refugees from other parts of Darfur has pushed the population to more than 1 million. Most of these people live in Zamzam and Naifash camps. The population of Al Fashir is a mix of ethnic groups. The local economy is based on livestock and gold trading, and the Al-Fashir camel market is one of the largest animal markets in western Sudan.
Militarily, al-Fashir was the last major base of the Sudanese Army (6th Infantry Division) in western Sudan before the fall of Sudan. A prolonged siege of the city from 2024 to October 2025 led to famine and a severe humanitarian crisis. The fall of al-Fashir ultimately gave the RSF full control of Darfur, paving the way for the RSF to expand its influence in Kordofan.
Aspects of the importance of al-Fashir and Darfur
Economic importance: Darfur and Al-Fashir play an important role in Sudan’s economy in terms of natural resources, agriculture, and livestock. Darfur’s gold mines account for the bulk of the country’s exports, and the region’s livestock markets are vital to trade with Egypt and Libya. However, the civil war disrupted production and trade networks. According to estimates, about 20 percent of Sudan’s livestock was lost during the war. Military and Strategic Importance: Al-Fashir is in a logistically advantageous position. The city is located at the crossroads of roads connecting Chad, Libya, Kordofan and eastern Sudan. Control of al-Fashir meant control of supply and shipping routes to the west of the country. The fall left the army with the loss of most of Darfur’s defenses, giving RSF forces easier access to the country’s center. Political and Humanitarian Significance: The fall of al-Fashir was not only a military defeat but also a symbolic blow to the central government. This event increased the risk of Sudan’s collapse and paved the way for the emergence of a “parallel state” in the West. From a humanitarian perspective, a catastrophe is brewing. More than 1 million people are living in a state of emergency, and hunger and malnutrition are rapidly spreading. According to the report, ethnic clashes between Arab and non-Arab groups have increased, resulting in large numbers of casualties.
regional influence
The RSF’s occupation of Darfur has also alarmed neighboring countries. Egypt views Fasil’s ouster as a threat to the security of its southern border. Chad and Libya are facing new waves of refugees and arms trafficking, and the United Arab Emirates, one of the RSF backers, is expanding its influence in western Sudan. International experts have warned that Sudan could become a collection of unstable states if this trend continues.
conclusion
Darfur and Al-Fashir are symbols of Sudan’s identity and structural crisis. The region, one-fifth the size of the country and rich in natural resources, was supposed to be a powerhouse of growth and stability, but war has turned it into one of Africa’s biggest humanitarian crises. Mr. al-Fashir’s fall showed that Sudan’s crisis is no longer just domestic, but has regional and even international implications. Inaction by the international community could pave the way for the country’s complete collapse. Sudan’s future depends on domestic willingness to negotiate and external support for reconstruction. Without it, the war in Darfur could be the beginning of the collapse of Africa’s second-largest country, a catastrophe whose effects extend beyond the Nile Valley and into the heart of West Africa.
MNA