Why Armed Clashes Occurred in Sudan: JICA Field Office Director Sakane Talks about the Situation in Sudan and JICA’s Efforts
It has been about a month since the violent armed clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), the national army, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group, occurred in Sudan in northeast Africa on April 15. We asked Mr. Koji Sakane, Director of the Sudan Office, who returned to Japan at the end of last month, why the clashes broke out in Sudan, which was supposed to be undergoing a transition to civilian rule, what the local situation is like, and what assistance JICA is providing.
Japanese return safely, but it is not the end of the story. At the end of April, amidst the fierce fighting that continued in various areas, especially in the capital Khartoum and the Darfur region, nine Japanese staff members of the JICA Sudan office left the region and returned home. However, Director Sakane said, “The evacuation of the Japanese is not the end of the story. What we will do as a development cooperation organization is the critical point,” he said with a somber look on his face.
According to OCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), more than 930,000 people have been forced to evacuate inside and outside the country as of May 15. In Khartoum, in addition to shortages of food, water, and fuel, communications have been disrupted, banking systems and medical facilities have malfunctioned, and many citizens are at risk.
There are still Sudanese staff members who have been working with us in the region. I want to do everything I can to ensure their safety and the safety of the Sudanese people who have been left behind,” says Sakane. Currently, he continues to provide the Sudanese staff with daily information on the war situation and security in the region via SNS and other means from Japan, and he is also making efforts to ensure their early departure to the neighboring country of Egypt.
Democratization of Darfur is at a standstill due to the conflict between the regular army and militia groups. However, under his patronage, the Janjaweed, now the RSF, a militia that committed genocide during the Darfur conflict, rapidly expanded its power.
After the fall of the Bashir regime, a transitional democratic transitional government was established, and a framework agreement was reached in December 2022 for the formation of a transitional government. Just as the democratization process seemed to have finally reached its final stage, the two sides came into conflict over the pending integration of the regular SAF and the paramilitary RSF, which is believed to have been a factor in the latest armed clashes.
With no prospect of a conclusion in sight, Mr. Sakane expresses his frustration, saying, “I must say that the road to democracy is far from over. However, we want to continue to support the people of Sudan, not the military or politicians, but the people of Sudan, who have worked hard to restore their country.
Aiming to Develop Administrative Officers to Support the Country Since independence in 1956, Sudan has been repeatedly subjected to armed rule through popular uprisings and military coups. In order to rebuild the living infrastructure devastated by years of conflict, JICA has continued to provide assistance with the aim of “fostering administrative agencies and government officials who can better serve the people,” focusing on the areas of healthcare, water and sanitation, agriculture, and the environment (waste disposal).
One of these is the strengthening of the national health insurance system. Due to the prolonged civil war in Sudan, there is inadequate health care and the infant and maternal mortality rate is high. and maternal care have been expanded.
In agriculture, a key industry, the company is focusing on irrigating the Nile River basin and supporting farmers’ farming. The government is also working to strengthen rice cultivation and develop wheat varieties that are resistant to drought and high temperatures. In addition, we are implementing the “Sudan’s Clean City Project,” in which garbage trucks depicting characters from the popular Sudanese manga “Captain Tsubasa” collect garbage in a Japanese-style “fixed-point collection” system. The project has contributed to improving the quality of life of the people.
Continued Interest in and Support for Sudan Sudan is connected by land with seven neighboring countries, and on the other side of the Red Sea is Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Since ancient times, the country has been home to a diverse range of people and has benefited from the rich blessings of the Nile. The Sudanese are very considerate people, and even today there are water fountains in every part of the city that people can freely use,” says Sakane.
© Source JICA
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