AGP Executive Report

Sudan Accountability Shock: A Sudanese RSF commander filmed allegedly executing civilians in al-Fashir has reportedly been released from prison and returned to active combat, according to Reuters—an abrupt turn that’s reigniting global pressure on accountability as the war grinds on. Economy Under Strain: Sudan’s inflation hit 45.84% in April as the pound weakens further, with urban inflation jumping to 49.70% and rural to 43.62%. Humanitarian Pressure: UN-linked reporting this week warns hunger is worsening, with nearly 20 million people facing acute food insecurity. Ebola Spillover Context: While not Sudan-specific, WHO’s Ebola emergency in eastern Congo and Uganda is driving regional border and surveillance moves—another reminder of how fast crises can spread when systems are stretched.

Sudan’s War, Off the World’s Radar: A new wave of attention is hitting Sudan again, but not because the crisis is improving. A recent report says the country’s suffering has been “conditionally visible” to global headlines—especially after the U.S. moved to label the Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood a foreign terrorist organization, tying Khartoum more tightly to the wider Iran conflict. Humanitarian Pressure: Meanwhile, UN-linked coverage keeps spotlighting hunger: nearly 20 million people in Sudan are still facing acute food shortages, with famine risks persisting. Civilians Under Fire: Drones are also being blamed for rising civilian casualties, underscoring how the war’s tactics keep worsening daily life. Context: Older reporting shows the conflict has been “slow-motion” for years—mass displacement, collapsing services, and empty cities—so the latest attention is more about geopolitics than relief.

Sudan Humanitarian Pressure: Sudan’s hunger crisis is worsening, with UN-linked reporting warning that millions face acute food shortages and famine risk as the war grinds on. Civilians Under Fire: New analysis highlights how drones are driving civilian deaths in Sudan, with experts pointing to foreign-supplied drone capabilities fueling attacks. Displacement Watch: Reports also point to continued mass displacement, including tens of thousands fleeing in Blue Nile amid ongoing fighting. Regional Diplomacy: Sudan’s Prime Minister Kamil Idris met President Mohammed Shahabuddin in the UK, with the visit focused on health updates and reaffirming ties. What Else Is Moving: Outside Sudan, the week’s biggest shockwaves include a fresh Ebola emergency in DRC and Uganda, and major political shakeups in Iraq as Ali al-Zaidi takes office—developments that could shape regional aid and security attention.

Sudan Civilian Toll: Experts warn that foreign-supplied drones are driving a sharp rise in civilian deaths, with UN officials saying drones account for over 80% of conflict-related fatalities; reports cite at least 880 civilian deaths from drone strikes between January and April. Humanitarian Alarm: UN agencies say hunger is worsening fast: over 19.5 million people face crisis levels of food insecurity, with more than five million in emergency hunger and 14 high-risk areas in Darfur and Kordofan facing famine risk if access and fighting conditions deteriorate. Diplomatic Moves: Sudan’s PM Kamil Idris met President Mohammed Shahabuddin in London, with the president recovering after a heart blockage treated by angioplasty and stent. Regional Context: The week also brought renewed focus on security and governance across the region, including Iraq’s new PM Ali al-Zaidi taking office and pledging reforms—while Sudan’s war continues to shape the humanitarian and security landscape.

Sudan Hunger Crisis: UN agencies warn nearly 20 million people in Sudan face acute hunger, with over 5 million in emergency levels and 135,000 already in catastrophic conditions, while 14 areas remain at risk of famine if fighting and aid access worsen. War’s Civilian Toll: A new report says armed drones are driving the deadliest civilian harm in the conflict, with drones killing at least 880 civilians between January and April and hitting places like hospitals, schools, and markets. Daily Survival Strain: In Khartoum’s outskirts, prolonged outages and service collapse are turning water access into a daily ordeal—long queues, rising prices, and fears of disease from unsafe supplies. Diplomatic Moves: Sudan’s PM Kamil Idris met President Mohammed Shahabuddin in London, discussing leadership and Bangladesh’s peacekeeping role. Regional Context: Egypt and Eritrea signed a maritime pact, stressing Red Sea security should be handled by littoral states—a reminder of how regional security decisions ripple into Sudan’s crisis.

Drones and civilian harm: A new AP report says drone warfare is now the leading cause of civilian deaths in Sudan, with at least 880 civilians killed by drones from January to April, as both the Sudanese army and RSF use foreign-supplied drone tech to strike hospitals, schools, markets and Khartoum’s airport. Humanitarian pressure: Hunger monitors and UN agencies warn the crisis is deepening: nearly 19.5–20 million people face acute hunger, with 135,000 in “catastrophic” conditions across Darfur, South Darfur and South Kordofan and risks of famine in the coming months. Daily survival: Civilians in Khartoum’s outskirts report water access has collapsed into long queues and rising prices, with families hauling water for survival amid power outages and service breakdowns. Regional spillover: Separate reporting links Sudan’s conflict to wider proxy dynamics, including allegations of foreign arms trafficking networks feeding the war. Politics elsewhere: Iraq’s Shiite blocs are fracturing over cabinet seats and marginalization, a reminder of how regional power struggles keep reshaping conflict politics.

Famine Watch: WFP/FAO/UNICEF warn hunger in Sudan is worsening fast: nearly 19.5 million people face crisis hunger, with 135,000 in catastrophic conditions across Darfur and South Kordofan and more areas at risk as the lean season approaches. Humanitarian Access: Aid is struggling to keep up as violence, displacement, and blocked routes limit deliveries. War Spillover: A separate report says Turkey is allegedly helping Iran transfer weapons to Sudan via sanctions-evasion networks. Politics at Home: In Sudan’s wider political fallout, protesters clashed with the entourage of Prime Minister Kamil Idris during his Oxford Union visit, underscoring anger over civilian harm and war crimes allegations. Regional Pressure: The AU and UN again blamed external interference for fueling conflicts across Africa, naming Sudan among the hardest hit.

Khartoum Airport Under Fire: Drones hit Khartoum’s international airport and SAF installations on May 4, shattering a fragile return to flights; the government then recalled its ambassador from Ethiopia, accusing Addis Ababa of complicity. Hunger Crisis Deepens: A UN-backed monitor says 19.5 million Sudanese face acute hunger, with famine-level risk still concentrated in North Darfur, South Darfur and South Kordofan as drone warfare targets markets, hospitals and power. Regional Tensions Rise: Sudan and Ethiopia trade escalating political and military accusations amid border movements, raising fears of a wider clash. Frontline Shifts: SAF continues drone strikes aimed at RSF leadership and infrastructure in western Sudan, while defections from RSF to the army are linked to intelligence sting operations and incentives. Aid Pressure: CARE warns women and girls are hit first as wealthy countries cut humanitarian funding—Sudan is named among the hardest-hit settings.

Sudan Hunger Crisis: Monitors say about 20 million people in Sudan are still facing acute hunger, with 14 areas in Darfur and South Kordofan at risk of famine-level conditions. Frontline Pressure: The army is stepping up drone strikes aimed at RSF leadership and infrastructure, while fighting continues across Kordofan and Blue Nile, where drones have hit civilian sites. Internal Security Fallout: Reports also point to army sting operations and money incentives behind a string of RSF defections, underscoring how the war’s power struggle is shifting. Regional Diplomacy: AU and UN leaders warned that external interference is fueling Africa’s security crises, naming Sudan among the hotspots. Humanitarian Signals: Despite the violence, there are signs of accelerating returns to Khartoum, as displaced families test whether life can restart.

Sudan War & Civilians: MSF says there’s “political failure” to end Sudan’s civil war and fund aid, warning of impunity in Darfur, a collapsing health system, and worsening food insecurity. Humanitarian Pressure: UN reporting highlights deepening atrocities and fragile living conditions as displacement continues, including fresh reports of tens of thousands fleeing Blue Nile. Governance in Rebel-Held Areas: Sudan’s Tasees administration is pushing to complete state institutions, including forming a new police force—framed as neutral and rights-based, but shadowed by disputes over legitimacy. Regional Diplomacy: Kenya’s Ruto rejects claims he’s “babysitting” Sudan’s generals, insisting both SAF and RSF come from the same coup-era breakdown. External Links to the Conflict: A US indictment alleges Turkey helped enable an Iranian arms pipeline to Sudan, putting sanctions evasion back in focus.

Sudan War, Humanitarian Fallout: Doctors Without Borders (MSF) says there’s been a “political failure” to end Sudan’s war and fund aid, warning that civilians face extreme violence, sexual assault, and a collapsing health system while global funding cuts and delivery hurdles worsen the crisis. Blue Nile Displacement: New figures put displacement in Sudan’s Blue Nile at nearly 50,000 people since the start of 2026, with most arrivals going to informal settlements and schools. Khartoum Security Setback: After the airport saw renewed flights, a drone attack on Khartoum’s airport and SAF installations shattered hopes of stability and triggered fresh diplomatic tensions, including Sudan recalling its ambassador from Ethiopia. Regional Pressure: Egypt and Uganda’s leaders met to coordinate on Sudan and other regional files, underscoring how Sudan’s conflict keeps pulling neighboring states into the spotlight.

Sudan War’s Human Cost: A new AFP report puts faces to the “double injustice” of rape in Khartoum—women forced to carry children of RSF assaults, including one mother who says, “It’s not my son’s fault.” Humanitarian Pressure: OCHA warns that deepening Middle East tensions are worsening Sudan’s crisis, disrupting supply routes and delaying aid by up to 25 days, while higher fuel and food costs hit already fragile systems. Economic Warfare: RSF drone strikes on Kenana Sugar’s fuel storage in White Nile threaten key infrastructure and food security, as both SAF and RSF increasingly target civilian assets. Regional Ripples: The broader Hormuz disruption story keeps resurfacing—shipping delays and fertilizer shocks are being linked to looming hunger risks that Sudan cannot absorb.

Sudan Crisis, Khartoum: Sudan’s government says it has recalled its ambassador from Ethiopia after a drone attack on Khartoum airport and nearby SAF installations, coming just after the airport reopened to international flights—an abrupt reminder that the war’s “return to normal” can be shattered overnight. War’s Human Cost: A new on-the-ground account from Khartoum describes near-total destruction across districts, with deaths already in the tens of thousands and hunger and disease spreading as infrastructure collapses. Sudan’s Diplomatic Pressure: The week also highlights Sudan’s pushback against RSF-linked humanitarian arrangements and the growing legal weight of wartime labels like “collaborator,” which can determine who gets prosecuted or excluded. Global Backdrop: Across the coverage, the Middle East conflict’s impact on food and energy systems keeps resurfacing—especially fears tied to shipping chokepoints and fertilizer supply—raising the stakes for Sudan’s already fragile food security.

Sudan Accountability Push: Sudanese victims, represented by DEMAIN, have filed a sanctions request with the EU’s High Representative Kaja Kallas, urging targeted action against Emirati officials and Sudanese figures linked to the RSF over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. Khartoum Tensions: The case sits in the shadow of renewed accusations after a drone attack on Khartoum airport, with Sudan recalling its ambassador from Ethiopia and pointing to cross-border aggression. Regional Pressure on Energy and Food: The wider backdrop is the Iran–Gulf standoff, with reports warning that Strait of Hormuz disruptions could trigger fertilizer shortages and worsen hunger—an issue that hits Sudan’s farmers hard. Health Watch: A new Sudan study challenges assumptions about malaria resistance to Plasmodium vivax, finding infections even among people long thought protected. Business Signal: Zain Group reported Q1 revenue up 6% to $1.86bn and net profit at a 15-year high, with Sudan among markets showing growth.

EU sanctions push on Sudan: Sudanese victims, represented by DEMAIN, have filed a formal request to the EU’s High Representative Kaja Kallas for targeted sanctions against Emirati officials and Sudanese businessmen allegedly tied to the RSF, demanding asset freezes, travel bans, and an end to foreign support as the war enters its fourth year. Khartoum airport fallout: In the background of the wider conflict, Khartoum’s government has been trading accusations with Ethiopia after a drone attack hit the international airport and nearby SAF installations, derailing a fragile return of flights. Regional pressure points: The week also kept spotlight on how Middle East and Red Sea tensions ripple into Africa—fuel, shipping, and food systems—while UN warnings say Sudan’s violence is moving into an even deadlier phase. South Africa politics spillover: Separately, South Africa’s ANC is scrambling after the Constitutional Court revived Ramaphosa’s impeachment path over the Phala Phala scandal, with Parliament moving to set up an impeachment committee.

In the past 12 hours, Sudan-focused coverage has been dominated by renewed diplomatic and security fallout tied to drone strikes on Khartoum International Airport. Ethiopia formally rejected Sudan’s accusations that it was involved, calling them “baseless,” while counter-accusing Sudan of territorial breaches and of serving as a hub for anti-Ethiopian forces, including the TPLF. Sudan also recalled its ambassador to Ethiopia amid the escalation, and the UAE similarly denied Sudan’s claims, describing them as “unfounded” and “deliberate propaganda.” The reporting frames these exchanges as part of a broader intensification of the drone war and forced diplomacy between the parties.

A second major thread in the last 12 hours is the humanitarian impact of the conflict on children’s education. AFP reports children in displacement camps in Port Sudan seeking to reclaim schooling despite trauma and disruption, with UNICEF describing how children’s drawings and routines shift over time as they adapt to accelerated learning. This sits alongside broader, recurring coverage in the same period about children being pushed out of education by war-hit conditions.

Beyond Sudan’s immediate crisis, the most recent articles also connect Sudan’s regional context to wider geopolitical shifts—especially around Red Sea security and sanctions. Reuters reporting (as summarized in the provided text) says the U.S. is set to lift sanctions on Eritrea, with analysts linking the move to Eritrea’s strategic Red Sea location and to maritime-route concerns amid heightened tensions around the Strait of Hormuz. While not a Sudan event per se, the coverage suggests how Horn of Africa alignments and Red Sea access are being recalculated in parallel with Sudan’s instability.

Older material from the 3–7 day window reinforces continuity in the same themes: repeated reporting on drone attacks and UN concern about escalating strikes endangering civilians; continued emphasis on press freedom risks and transnational repression; and sustained attention to the war’s knock-on effects, including public health and education disruptions. However, the provided evidence is sparse on any single new Sudan policy decision or battlefield shift beyond the latest round of accusations/denials and ambassador-level escalation—so the overall picture is of an intensifying dispute and its humanitarian consequences rather than a clearly documented turning point.