(Photo by Hussein Malla via Free Malaysia Today/CC BY 4.0 DEED)
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The conflict in Sudan, which began in April of 2023, has spiraled into a humanitarian catastrophe. The conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has plunged the nation into chaos, claiming the lives of more than 20,000 people, displacing millions, and pushing an already struggling country to the brink of collapse.
What began as a domestic power struggle is now turning into a proxy war between external powers, who see Sudan as a battleground for their own geopolitical ambitions. Countries like Iran, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Russia are fueling the war, all the while millions of innocent civilians bear the cost.
The impact of this prolonged conflict on the Sudanese people has been disastrous. According to the UN, more than 8 million people are displaced, and nearly 25 million urgently need humanitarian assistance. The country’s infrastructure has been decimated, with hospitals, schools, and markets destroyed by the fighting. Food shortages, disease outbreaks, and the collapse of basic services have left millions on the brink of starvation. The international community has provided some aid, but it has been inadequate, given the scale of the crisis.
The United Nations (UN) and the international community at large have urged foreign actors to prioritize peace. Instead of encouraging dialogue between the warring factions, however, countries such as the UAE continue to arm, fund, and manipulate the situation to serve their own interests. As a result, the conflict drags on, prolonging human suffering and preventing any meaningful efforts at a resolution.
How Did We Get Here? The Road to War
Sudan’s current conflict has roots in decades of authoritarian rule under Omar al-Bashir, who was ousted in 2019 after mass protests demanding democracy. However, the military’s initial support for the uprising quickly turned into a power struggle between two factions: the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemetti.
The RSF originated from the Janjaweed militias active in Darfur, which is infamous for committing atrocities. Over time, it became a powerful paramilitary force, gathering wealth from Sudan’s gold resources and receiving foreign support, particularly from the UAE. This backing gave the RSF significant leverage over the SAF, enabling it to push for more regional autonomy under Hemetti’s leadership. The SAF, however, envisions a centralized military-led government, aligning more closely with traditional power structures in Sudan.
Following a failed civilian-military transition and an SAF-led coup in 2021, tensions between the SAF and RSF exploded into full-scale conflict in 2023. Both factions have committed abuses, though the RSF’s extensive resources and reputation for brutal tactics have intensified violence against civilians.
Amid this chaos, foreign countries, including the UAE, Iran, and Russia, see an opportunity. Sudan’s rich resources, including gold and oil, and its strategic position on the Red Sea have attracted the attention of global powers looking to strengthen their influence on the continent.
Foreign Meddling: The Engine Behind the War
Sudan’s conflict finds its roots in local power struggles and the shifting foreign interests that have intensified internal divisions. International actors, including the UAE, Iran, and Russia, are backing opposing factions in the war, helping to draw out an especially brutal conflict. This interference has pushed Sudan’s fragile transition into chaos, with foreign support fueling both the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in their quest for control.
Initially supported by the United States, the UAE played a significant role in backing Sudan’s military leadership after the 2019 revolution. Although civilian groups demanded democratic governance following the fall of Omar al-Bashir, the UAE and the US favoured a stable, military-led government to protect their strategic interests, such as securing access to Red Sea trade routes and stabilizing supply chains.
Iran’s involvement came as a reaction to the UAE’s growing influence over Sudan’s military. To counter UAE-backed forces, Iran aligned itself with the SAF, using the ties to check the influence of Gulf states and strengthen its foothold in Africa. This alignment has allowed Iran to challenge UAE dominance in the region, further complicating the dynamics of the conflict.
Russia’s interest in Sudan, meanwhile, is largely economic. Through the private military group Wagner, Russia has supported the RSF, leveraging access to Sudan’s gold reserves to circumvent Western sanctions and bolster its economy. Russia’s resource-focused approach has only intensified the conflict, giving the RSF additional means to sustain its fight against the SAF.
Iran, the UAE, and Russia, among others, are playing pivotal roles in keeping the conflict alive. By supplying weapons, intelligence, and financial backing to different sides, these countries have ensured that peace remains elusive.
The UN Security Council has called for a ceasefire between Sudan’s army and the RSF, but foreign interference has stalled any real progress. If these outside powers shifted their focus from arming militias to facilitating peace talks, Sudan might finally see a way out of this devastating war.
Iran And The UAE: A Power Play in Africa?
The UAE, the most significant foreign player in the conflict, has aligned itself with the RSF, providing financial and military assistance to the forces. The UAE views Sudan as a valuable resource hub that could boost its food security and economic influence in the region. Additionally, Sudan’s location is crucial for the UAE’s larger goal of securing a trade route that connects the UAE with the rest of the world. To protect these interests, the UAE aims to ensure that Sudan remains a stable ally, preventing potential disruptions along the Red Sea.
In particular, the UAE has continued to supply the RSF with drones despite the continued arms embargo placed by the U.N Security Council. The delivery of these drones has greatly diminished the strength of the SAF’s air power. The UAE’s financial support has given the Sudanese military the resources to sustain its war effort, prolonging the conflict. As long as the RSF continues to receive backing from the UAE, they have little incentive to come to the negotiating table.
Iran, meanwhile, has long sought to extend its influence across the Middle East and Africa, and Sudan is no exception. Tehran has supported the SAF, supplying them with weapons, training, and intelligence. Iran’s involvement in Sudan is part of its broader strategy to gain a foothold in the region, using Sudan as a stepping stone to project power in Africa.
Iran’s backing of the RSF is also motivated by its rivalry with the UAE, which supports the opposing side in the conflict. By aiding the SAF, Iran hopes to counterbalance the UAE’s influence in Sudan and the wider region. Iran’s continued support of the SAF only emboldens the militia to keep fighting rather than seek a peaceful resolution.
Russia’s Gold Rush
Russia’s role in Sudan seems less about regional balancing and more about profit. Sudan is home to vast gold reserves, and Russia has been eager to capitalize on this wealth. The Wagner Group, a notorious Russian paramilitary organization, is accused of supporting the RSF in exchange for access to Sudan’s gold mines. This mutually beneficial arrangement allows Russia to skirt Western sanctions and finance its activities while the RSF gains the resources to continue its war against the Sudanese army.
Russia’s involvement in Sudan highlights the lengths to which foreign powers will go to exploit the country’s instability for their gain. Recent events suggest Russia is reducing its support of the RSF to play both sides. Whatever the case, as long as there is gold to be mined and profit to be made, Russia will likely continue to be involved in the conflict, further entrenching the conflict.
The Path Forward—Prioritizing Peace
Sudan’s war will only end when foreign powers stop using the country as a pawn in their geopolitical games. Iran, the UAE, and Russia must cease their support for Sudan’s warring factions and instead work towards facilitating peace talks under the guidance of the UN. Although foreign powers may have strategic interests in Sudan, the priority must be to end the bloodshed.
The international community must also step up its efforts to provide humanitarian aid to the millions of Sudanese people affected by the war.
The international community should pressure foreign actors to halt their interference and make diplomatic efforts to bring both sides to the negotiating table.
Ultimately, the solution to Sudan’s conflict lies in diplomacy, not intervention. The longer foreign powers meddle in the country’s affairs, the more lives will be lost. Sudan’s future depends on peace, and that peace will only come when the world stops playing games with Sudan’s sovereignty and starts prioritizing its people.
Edited by Majeed Malhas
