Context:
India has started ‘Operation Kaveri’ to evacuate its nationals owing to the Current Crisis in Sudan.
Relevance:
GS II: International Relations
Dimensions of the Article:
- About Operation Kaveri:
- Current Crisis in Sudan
- Impact of the Current Crisis in Sudan
About Operation Kaveri:
- Indian Government undertaking rescue operation to bring back Indian citizens stranded in Sudan
- Official data suggests approximately 4,000 Indians currently in Sudan
- Two C-130 aircraft and navy ship INS Sumedha on standby for evacuation
Reason for Evacuation:
- Deadly fighting between Sudanese army and paramilitary group, Rapid Support Forces (RSF)
- Conflict reportedly resulted in several hundred deaths
Current Crisis in Sudan
Background:
- President Omar al-Bashir overthrown by military generals in April 2019 after widespread protests.
- Power-sharing body called Sovereignty Council established to lead Sudan to elections by end of 2023.
- Military overthrew transitional government led by Abdalla Hamdok in October 2021.
Recent Developments:
- General Burhan and General Dagalo became de-facto leaders of Sudan.
- Power struggle between Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) generals.
- Preliminary deal reached in December 2021 for political transition, but negotiations hit a roadblock over RSF integration with SAF.
- Disagreements over timetable and security sector reforms led to tensions and clashes.
- Dagalo wanted to delay RSF integration for 10 years, while army said it should take place in the next two years.
About RSF
- RSF stands for Rapid Support Forces
- It is a group that evolved from Janjaweed militias which fought in the conflict in the 2000s in the Darfur region in West Sudan.
- The RSF was created in 2013 and its forces were initially used as border guards.
- In 2015, the RSF began sending troops to fight in the war in Yemen alongside Saudi and Emirati forces.
- It has been accused of committing human rights abuses in various states including South Kordofan and the Blue Nile.
- In a 2015 report, Human Rights Watch described its forces as “men with no mercy”.
Impact of the Current Crisis in Sudan
- The conflict between the army and RSF may make Sudan’s transition to democracy more difficult.
- There is a risk that the tussle could escalate into a wider conflict leading to the country’s collapse.
- Sudan’s struggling economy, battered by hyperinflation and massive foreign debt, has been further impacted by the crisis.
- Billions of dollars in international support and debt relief were frozen after the ouster of the Hamdok government.
- The conflict may spill over into neighboring countries and destabilize the region, particularly Chad and South Sudan.
- There is a risk of major external intervention if the fighting continues, and refugees from Sudan’s contested areas have already fled to Chad.
-Source: The Hindu
