Sudan

There are fears that a divided country could yet splinter into a patchwork of overlapping fiefdoms led by warlords and terrorists, with neither a military nor diplomatic solution looking likely

The powerful militia controls half the country, battling the Sudanese Armed Forces for the rest, but has had several setbacks as of late, including defections to the other side

More than 21 million Sudanese face acute food shortages, despite no shortage of arable land. With war in Iran sending the cost of fuel and fertiliser soaring, famines are now being declared

The transfer of sovereign decision-making to external management structures would inevitably cater to the interests of contributors rather than the Sudanese people

Is the Red Sea moving toward an ordered space governed by capable states or toward a grey zone edging toward disorder? Read our February cover story to find out.

In places like Yemen, Sudan, and Somalia, which all have long coastlines along key maritime routes, the authority of the state and its institutions needs to overcome the forces of disorder.

In Yemen, Somalia, and Sudan, the state has ceased to function as it should. This has led to problems not just on land but at sea, making this trio one big and urgent international issue.

For Cairo, stability in its southern neighbour is a national security issue. After almost three years of seeking a diplomatic solution, there are signs that it is now turning to firepower.

Washington seems to have changed its tone after the RSF committed atrocities in October, putting increasing pressure on the foreign backers of a paramilitary that now controls Darfur. What next?

When there were allegations of ethnic cleansing in Darfur in 2003, celebrities and others were up in arms. Today, with 60,000 reportedly killed in three weeks, protests are few. Why the change?