The Washington PostThe Washington Post

Why the fighting in Sudan spells trouble for its neighbors

By Miriam Berger

28 Apr 2023 · 5 min read

Editor's Note

A "catastrophic conflagration" of the Sudan conflict could consume neighboring countries, the U.N. chief has warned. Sudan's geostrategic importance heightens the risk of a spillover, The Post writes.

Nearly two weeks of fighting in Sudan has threatened to tear apart the country of 49 million people - and to further inflame conflicts within its neighbors' borders.

Sudan borders seven nations - Egypt, South Sudan, Chad, Central African Republic, Libya, Ethiopia and Eritrea - each of which have faced war, violent civil unrest or political upheaval in recent years. As hopes for a swift resolution in Sudan dim with each failed cease-fire, a "catastrophic conflagration" of the conflict could consume the region, U.N. Secretary General António Guterres warned this week.

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