Digital Warfare Escalates Sudan’s Humanitarian Crisis

Sudan’s civil war has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and displaced 12 million people in nearly three years of fighting, with digital misinformation now emerging as a battlefield equally brutal as the physical conflict itself.

A recent Thomson Foundation report reveals how online disinformation has become a powerful weapon in the hands of warring factions, directly contributing to violence on the ground. With 80% of Sudanese journalists having lost their jobs according to the Sudanese Journalists Syndicate, social media has filled the information void with content ranging from crude propaganda to sophisticated manipulation campaigns.

The report, authored by experts including Aida Al-Kaisy and Amal Hamdan, documents several instances where online disinformation preceded physical attacks. In one disturbing example, a community kitchen was struck by a suicide drone just two days after a Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) officer posted accusations on Facebook claiming people in the Shambat area were collaborating with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group.

“Disinformation serves as a powerful mechanism to ensure the war continues, protecting the political and financial interests of the warring parties,” the report states. “Any individual or group calling for peace, dialogue, or non-violent responses is systematically attacked, isolated, and accused of treason by both sides.”

This digital war is waged on uneven ground, with distinct narratives appearing in Arabic versus English content, and different storylines pushed by the two main warring factions. Bot armies rapidly amplify anti-peace sentiments, poisoning the information ecosystem.

The situation has worsened with the introduction of artificial intelligence. Following the RSF’s takeover of El Fasher in October 2025, which resulted in mass killings, an anonymous source told researchers that “an estimated 90% of the videos and posters that spread were AI-generated, not real.” This flood of synthetic content allowed perpetrators to deny atrocities and blur the distinction between authentic and fabricated evidence.

Communication infrastructure has become another casualty of the conflict. While tactical communication blackouts are not new to Sudan, the situation dramatically deteriorated in February 2024 when the RSF seized control of internet service providers in Khartoum, triggering a nationwide internet blackout. Though service has partially resumed in some areas, telecommunications remain unstable, with the government restricting WhatsApp calls since July 2025.

These outages have crippled humanitarian efforts. Local aid groups struggle to fundraise, report to donors, access banking services, or coordinate medical assistance. The blackouts also prevent families from contacting loved ones and make it impossible to accurately assess the death toll or document war crimes committed by both the RSF and SAF.

Some Sudanese have turned to alternatives like Facebook Lite, which operates effectively on low-bandwidth devices, though these platforms have become breeding grounds for manipulated content. Those who can afford it use Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite-based internet service that remains operational despite ground-based infrastructure damage. However, access to Starlink devices often requires negotiating with RSF soldiers who have reportedly imported the technology.

Emergency response rooms (ERRs), which operate communal kitchens providing meals throughout the conflict, have been particularly affected by communication difficulties. These local initiatives rely on e-banking and can reach areas inaccessible to international organizations, prompting Mercy Corps to advocate for directing at least 25% of donor funds to these groups through simplified funding models.

The Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC), a network of organizations pooling communication resources during humanitarian crises, has been active in Sudan since May 2023. Recent initiatives include establishing an undersea fiber internet service in August 2024 and purchasing $3 million in networking equipment, with training workshops planned for October. However, these efforts fall short of addressing the scale of need amid severe funding shortages, and ETC services primarily benefit aid agencies rather than ordinary Sudanese civilians.

Rather than advocating for internet shutdowns, the Thomson Foundation recommends increased moderation by social media platforms, including swift action against fake accounts and limiting the reach of hate speech. The report also calls for greater support for independent Sudanese media, including fact-checking initiatives.

The crisis in Sudan demonstrates that the solution isn’t less information but better information—particularly when armed groups, their financial backers, and technology companies profiting from viral content all benefit from the spread of misinformation. While Sudan’s situation is dire, the digital warfare tactics deployed there represent a threat that could manifest anywhere in the world.