Truth Face: Our Food Security Under Siege

Ibrahim Shaglawi

Last week, Sudan’s delegation, headed by Minister of Finance Dr. Gibril Ibrahim, participated in the meetings of the Board of Governors of the African Development Bank in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo. The meetings discussed issues of development financing, strengthening agricultural production, reinforcing supply chains, and expanding investment partnerships, with particular attention to supporting fragile and conflict-affected countries. In his address, the Minister emphasized the importance of taking into account economic disparities among member states and adopting fairer and more flexible financing mechanisms that support efforts toward stability and development.

This participation and this important event cannot be viewed in isolation from Sudan’s current reality, as the country stands at a crossroads between three intertwined paths: an agricultural production crisis resulting from disruptions in global supply chains, social and economic pressures imposed by war, and recent climate warnings indicating the possibility of below-average rainfall during the current rainy season.

At the global level, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz in late February 2026 caused widespread disruptions in trade and supply chains, particularly affecting fuel, fertilizers, and production inputs, given its role as a vital corridor for global shipping. This has been reflected in rising food prices and fluctuating supplies, while Sudan depends on imports to meet a significant portion of its fertilizer needs. With the agricultural season approaching, the crisis has become a direct threat to the country’s food security.

However, the more complex dimension emerges through the climate factor. According to the official bulletin issued last week by the Greater Horn of Africa Climate Outlook Forum (GHACOF73) through the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC), affiliated with the World Meteorological Organization, there is a high probability of below-normal rainfall during the period from June to September 2026 across large parts of the northern Horn of Africa, including Sudan.

The seriousness of this indication stems from the nature of the season itself, as this period accounts for nearly 80% of the total annual rainfall in vast areas of the country. Therefore, any decline in rainfall levels will directly affect rain-fed agriculture, livestock, water resources, and food stability.

More concerning is that this warning is based on comparisons with previous climatic periods that experienced weak rainfall, reinforcing the credibility of the projected scenario. Sudan is entering this season burdened by the consequences of war, weakened productive infrastructure, and rising operational costs, making its capacity to respond extremely limited.

In light of these realities, discussing Sudanese food security becomes a matter of national security par excellence. The agricultural season in our country is not merely a productive activity; it is the first line of defense against hunger, poverty, and social instability.

From this perspective, the discussions in Brazzaville regarding support for agricultural production and supply chains acquire special significance when viewed through the Sudanese lens. Sudan is not seeking temporary assistance; rather, the seriousness of the regional and international system is being tested in protecting productive countries when they face pressures and challenges.

In this context, there are direct and important messages that we send to local, regional, and international actors.

To the African Development Bank: Supporting Sudan at this stage must move beyond the general development framework toward urgent exceptional interventions to secure agricultural production inputs, because protecting the agricultural season means protecting regional stability.

To international partners and donors: Financing agriculture in Sudan today is the least costly and most effective option compared to the cost of responding to humanitarian crises after they escalate. Prevention remains as important as addressing crises before they occur.

To climate and early warning institutions: Linking climate warnings to national agricultural policies and stimulating action based on them has become an urgent necessity, because early information is of no value if it is not translated into practical decisions at the right time.

To the Sudanese government, represented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation: Managing the agricultural season must be treated as a national emergency file, coordinated fully among state institutions and the private sector, with the highest levels of preparedness and decisiveness.

There is still an opportunity to avert the crisis through urgent measures, including accelerating the provision of production inputs through the Ministry of Finance, directing resources toward the most productive agricultural areas, and establishing a joint mechanism to monitor supplies until the end of the season, alongside developing a national plan to reduce dependence on imports in the future. The success of the agricultural season is no longer a matter concerning farmers alone; it has become a national security issue linked to food, stability, and economic recovery.

The question that remains, according to #Truth_Face, for Sudan and its regional and international partners is: Will this country be left to face these risks alone, or will support be provided in recognition of its role as a fundamental pillar in Africa’s food security equation? The stability of agricultural production in Sudan is part of the stability of the entire region.

Wishing you continued health and well-being.

Tuesday, June 2, 2026

Shglawi55@gmail.com