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Sudan is experiencing one of the most devastating and complex wars of the 21st
century. What began in April 2023 as a violent power struggle between two rival
generals—the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and
the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also
known as Hemedti—has escalated into a multi-layered regional crisis. Behind the
mass displacement, famine, ethnic cleansing and destruction of entire cities lies a
deeper truth: the conflict is heavily shaped, fueled and prolonged by foreign
influence.
More than 150,000 Sudanese civilians have been killed, and millions have been
displaced. The recent massacre in El Fasher, where satellite imagery revealed
extensive killings by the RSF, marks one of the darkest chapters of the war. While
Sudanese civilians continue to pay the price, foreign governments and private
actors are playing decisive roles—providing weapons, money, political cover and
strategic support to both warring sides.
Why Sudan Matters to Foreign Powers
Sudan sits at the heart of a geopolitical crossroads. It is a natural bridge between
North Africa, the Sahel, the Horn of Africa and the Middle East. Several factors make
Sudan attractive for regional and global powers:
1. The Red Sea and Maritime Routes
Sudan controls 500 miles of Red Sea coastline along one of the world’s most
important shipping lanes. Control over this coastline means influence over global
trade and strategic naval positioning.
2. Natural Resources
Sudan holds vast:
Gold deposits
Agricultural land
Gum arabic production (the world’s largest)
Livestock and export potential
These resources are highly valuable for states seeking economic dominance or
diversification.
3. Water Diplomacy
The Blue Nile, which flows hundreds of miles through Sudan, grants the country
leverage in water politics between Ethiopia and Egypt—two nations locked in
tensions over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
These strategic advantages explain why outside powers are eager to secure
influence in Sudan.
The Current War: SAF vs RSF
Sudan’s war is fundamentally a power struggle inside the military leadership that
once cooperated to remove President Omar al-Bashir in 2019 and later
consolidated control in the 2021 coup. When Burhan and Hemedti turned against
each other, the military splintered.
The SAF represents the traditional army structure, tied heavily to Egypt and other
state institutions.
The RSF grew out of the notorious Janjaweed militias, responsible for genocide in
Darfur in the 2000s.
The RSF rapidly conquered territory using speed, drones, foreign-supplied artillery
and brutal tactics. Their capture of El Fasher, after a 500-day siege, revealed
catastrophic atrocities including mass executions, starvation sieges and ethnic
cleansing of non-Arab populations.
As the conflict deepened, foreign involvement became more explicit.
Foreign Powers Involved in Sudan’s War
✅ United Arab Emirates (UAE): The Most Controversial Actor
The UAE has faced repeated accusations—by US officials, UN panels, human rights
groups and satellite evidence—of supplying weapons, money and logistical
support to the RSF.
What the evidence suggests
Chinese-made 155mm howitzers used by the RSF exist only in the UAE and China.
Satellite imagery and intelligence reports show UAE-backed flights transporting
weapons to Sudan through Chad and Somalia.
Colombian mercenaries allegedly contracted through the UAE took part in RSF
training.
Gold mined in RSF-controlled areas is reportedly exported through Dubai, helping
finance Hemedti's war machine.
UAE’s official position
The UAE denies all accusations. Officials claim:
They support peace and civilian rule
They provide only humanitarian assistance
Reports linking them to weapons shipments are “fake news”
However, leaked UN findings and documented arms flows contradict these denials.
Why the UAE might be involved
Experts note three main motives:
Economic interests, especially gold trade and farmland acquisition
Regional power competition, particularly with Saudi Arabia and Egypt
Opposition to democratic transitions, consistent with the UAE’s stance after the
Arab Spring
✅ Egypt: Backing the Sudanese Army (SAF)
Egypt considers Sudan’s stability essential to its national security. For Cairo, a
strong SAF under Burhan is preferable to an unpredictable militia like the RSF.
Egypt’s motivations
Protecting its interests in the Nile and GERD negotiations
Preventing a militia-controlled Sudan, which could destabilize the region
Maintaining influence over a southern neighbor historically aligned with Cairo
In 2024–2025, Egypt increased weapons shipments to the SAF with Turkish
coordination.
✅ Saudi Arabia
Riyadh initially supported Sudan’s military leadership after the fall of al-Bashir.
While the kingdom remains publicly committed to peace negotiations, experts
believe it still provides diplomatic and logistical backing to the SAF.
Saudi Arabia and the UAE, usually close allies, diverge sharply on Sudan:
UAE favors RSF
Saudi Arabia favors SAF
This rivalry intensifies the conflict.
✅ Russia (and Wagner/PMC Groups)
Russia has longstanding relationships with both the RSF and elements of the
Sudanese state.
Key involvement
Wagner Group previously supported RSF units in gold extraction operations.
Russia has pursued naval basing rights in Port Sudan, giving access to the Red Sea.
Though Wagner has fragmented in recent years, Russian interest in Sudan remains
active due to gold, military influence and geopolitical access.
✅ United States: Influence Without Control
The US helped broker humanitarian truces and provided satellite support to
document atrocities. However, Washington has been criticized for:
Slow response to mass killings
Reluctance to pressure regional allies like the UAE
Confusing signals through changing diplomatic positions
Experts argue that US pressure on foreign backers could reduce the war’s intensity,
but Washington has avoided confrontations with Abu Dhabi, Cairo or Riyadh.
The El Fasher Massacre: A Turning Point
In late October, the RSF stormed El Fasher, the last major Darfur city under
government control. What followed was horrific:
Satellite images revealed mass killings visible from space
Videos posted by RSF fighters showed executions and torture
Hospitals were overrun; civilians were killed inside medical facilities
Residents survived weeks on grass and animal feed due to a famine siege
Ethnic cleansing targeted the Fur, Zaghawa, and Berti peoples
The city became known as “The Killbox”
Humanitarian experts warn that Tawila may be the next target, with hundreds of
thousands of civilians trapped.
Why Foreign Influence Makes the War Worse
Sudan’s conflict persists not only because of local dynamics, but because foreign
powers:
Provide weapons
Offer political protection
Finance militias
Block international action
Preserve economic interests
Every external actor has its own agenda, which rarely aligns with the safety of
Sudanese civilians.
Attempts at ceasefires fail because foreign backers believe they can shape the
outcome of the war by empowering their preferred faction.
The Humanitarian Catastrophe
Over 10 million displaced
More than 150,000 killed
Millions at risk of famine
Entire cities burned or emptied
Hospitals destroyed
Ethnic cleansing accelerating
Sudan now hosts one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises.
Doctors, activists and survivors say the international community has failed to act
meaningfully, despite clear evidence and repeated warnings.
What Comes Next?
Experts believe the war will worsen unless:
Foreign weapons shipments stop
Regional powers face consequences
A unified peace effort emerges
Humanitarian access is restored
Civilian political leadership is included
Others fear the RSF’s military momentum could push the war toward full territorial
takeover of Darfur and central Sudan, leading to further atrocities.
The coming months will be critical. The battle for Tawila, the pressure on Port
Sudan and foreign diplomatic moves will determine the direction of the conflict.
Sudan’s conflict is not simply an internal struggle. It is a war shaped by the
ambitions, fears and strategic interests of multiple foreign powers. Weapons,
money and political patronage flowing from the UAE, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Russia
and others have deepened the crisis, empowered militias and prolonged civilian
suffering.
As long as foreign influence continues unchecked, Sudan’s path to peace remains
distant. For millions of Sudanese trapped between famine, displacement and
violence, the world’s silence carries deadly consequences.
