Tea Offered by Sudan Civil War Survivors: A Symbol of Resilience Amid Devastation

By [Your Name], July 30, 2025

In the war-torn streets of Sudan, where the ongoing civil conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has left millions displaced and infrastructure in ruins, small acts of humanity shine through the darkness. Among these is the enduring tradition of offering tea, a gesture of hospitality that persists even in the face of unimaginable hardship. Survivors of Sudan’s brutal civil war, now in its third year, are using this simple act to maintain dignity, foster community, and resist the despair brought by violence and displacement.

A Tradition of Hospitality in Crisis

In April 2025, an NPR correspondent visiting Khartoum, recently recaptured by the Sudanese army, witnessed the scale of destruction left by over two years of conflict. Once a vibrant hub, the capital is now a shadow of its former self, with entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble. Yet, amidst this desolation, survivors extended a warm, stubborn hospitality. “Each interview began with an offer of Sudanese coffee or tea,” the correspondent noted, describing the tea as “black or mahogany-red, sometimes with cinnamon leaves.” Glass after glass was served, often accompanied by dates and water, a ritual undeterred by the scarcity of resources. For these survivors, offering tea is not just a cultural norm but a defiant act of normalcy in a city scarred by war.

The conflict, which erupted on April 15, 2023, has displaced over 12 million people within Sudan and driven nearly 3 million to seek refuge in neighboring countries like Chad and South Sudan. The war has triggered the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, with 30.4 million people—more than half of Sudan’s population—in need of aid. Famine looms in regions like Darfur