Sudan’s historical famine echoes through latest hunger crisis

Sudan is experiencing a catastrophic food crisis exacerbated by the war between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, which began in April 2023. Famines were declared in 2024 and 2025, driven by human-made factors rather than environmental shocks. Sudan's history is marked by major food crises, including the one from 1888 to 1889, which resulted in the deaths of over a million people due to drought, locust infestations, and conflict.