Sudan's war reshapes demographics, minister says

Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Mutasim Ahmed Saleh told Al Jazeera Arabic that more than three years of civil war between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces have dramatically altered Sudan's demographic profile. The conflict, which began in April 2023, is estimated to have killed about 200,000 people and displaced over 11 million, creating the United Nations' largest humanitarian crisis.

Saleh said the war has increased poverty, reduced incomes, weakened basic services and shrunk the labour market. It has also forced tens of thousands of Sudanese to seek asylum in neighbouring Egypt, South Sudan and Chad. In response, the ministry plans to strengthen population policies, link them to social‑protection programmes, support voluntary refugee return, reintegrate displaced people and develop human capital as part of national recovery. He highlighted the country’s youthful population – roughly 70 % under age 30 – as a potential demographic dividend if education, jobs and services are restored.

The announcements were made ahead of World Population Day on July 11, with Saleh emphasizing that investing in people is “the real investment in Sudan’s future.”