Slate News Sudan on the Brink
Nov 19, 2025
David Miliband, former UK foreign secretary and current president of the International Rescue Committee, delves into the devastating civil war in Sudan, where tens of thousands have perished. He explains the dynamics of the conflict, driven by resource control and strategic power, and highlights the ethnic tensions impacting non-Arab populations. Miliband discusses the impact of U.S. aid cuts on humanitarian efforts, stresses the importance of accountability, and shares a poignant survivor story to illustrate resilience amid chaos.
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Planned Siege Visible From Space
- The RSF siege of Al-Fashir was methodical, using berms to isolate and create a 'kill box' around civilians.
- David Miliband says this shows planned, large-scale targeting of civilians visible even from satellite imagery.
An Elite Struggle Over Resources
- The conflict is an elite fight between two branches of Sudan's armed forces that began after the 2021 coup.
- Miliband emphasizes it’s about controlling territory and resources like gold and strategic ports, not a grassroots uprising.
Proxy War Dynamics Complicate Peace
- The war has been internationalized with regional backers for different militias, turning Sudan into a proxy battleground.
- Miliband calls this the 'internationalization of civil war,' complicating diplomatic solutions.