Sudan’s War of Words and Bullets: A Digital Ethnographic Analysis of the 15 April War Discourse

Abstract

The article examines the relationship between discourse and the ongoing war in Sudan, which began on 15 April 2023, between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The article employs digital ethnography as a tool for data collection and description in conjunction with critical discourse analysis. It finds that discourse surrounding the April War is of a binary nature and shares a reciprocal relationship with the war itself. This relationship is rooted in the instrumentalization of factors such as cultural diversity, linguistic plurality, and ethnic distinctions in Sudan toward achieving military objectives – while disregarding the psychological and social impacts of mobilization strategies.