- The RSF seized the city after 18 long months of siege, during which they continuously blocked access and led a starvation campaign against civilians.
- The RSF traces its origins to the Janjaweed militia, notorious for committing atrocities during the Darfur conflict.
- Sudan’s geographic position, linking the Red Sea to the Sahel region and connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean, makes it a vital geopolitical corridor.
- With nearly 60000 people killed since the start of the war, 13 million displaced, and major cities turned into graveyards, Sudan now faces one of the worst humanitarian disasters in recent memory.
The civil war in Sudan has taken a far more complex turn as it enters its second year, reaching a critical phase after the Rapid Support Forces captured the North Darfur city of El Fasher. The RSF seized the city after 18 long months of siege, during which they continuously blocked access and led a starvation campaign against civilians. Soon after taking control of the city, reports emerged of mass executions, sexual assaults, and indiscriminate killings. Within a week, nearly 2000 civilians, including women and young children, were killed. The brutality in El Fasher has been so extensive that satellite images show visible red marks, indicating the widespread bloodshed taking place there.
The war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces has displaced over 13 million people, creating a massive humanitarian crisis in the region. The conflict began in April 2023 after a disagreement between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF. The Sudanese Armed Forces had asked the RSF to integrate into the national army, but the RSF refused.
It is important to note that General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the head of the Sudanese Armed Forces, and Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemeti, the head of the RSF, were once allies. Both played a role in toppling the civilian government of Abdalla Hamdok in 2021. Hamdok’s administration had come to power after ousting the long-time authoritarian leader Omar al-Bashir. Since then, tensions between the two military units have grown, primarily because the Sudanese Armed Forces insisted that the RSF disband and merge with the regular army, a demand strongly rejected by Hemeti. This disagreement ultimately led to the ongoing civil war.
The RSF traces its origins to the Janjaweed militia, notorious for committing atrocities during the Darfur conflict. Now, the RSF stands accused of carrying out ethnic genocide against non Arab tribes in El Fasher and other regions.
External actors have also played a significant role in fueling the conflict. Among them, the United Arab Emirates is considered one of the major players. Although the UAE has officially denied the accusations, multiple reports indicate that Emirati aircraft have landed in RSF-controlled areas, allegedly transporting military equipment and supplies.
The RSF’s historical ties with the UAE date back to the Yemen War of 2015, where RSF fighters fought alongside the Emirati military against the Houthi rebels. This past alliance has reportedly led to ongoing cooperation. Analysts believe that the UAE’s interest in Sudan stems from both strategic and economic motives. Sudan’s geographic position, linking the Red Sea to the Sahel region and connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean, makes it a vital geopolitical corridor. Control over Sudanese ports would give the UAE significant access to Red Sea trade routes and the country’s abundant gold resources.
The war has also triggered divisions among Arab and African nations. Saudi Arabia and Egypt, both having strong interests in the Red Sea region, have indirectly supported the Sudanese Armed Forces. On the other hand, the UAE and Chad have reportedly backed the RSF. Meanwhile, Eritrea and the Tigray Liberation Front have supported the Sudanese Armed Forces to counterbalance Ethiopia, given their tense relations with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government.
Another important aspect is the timing of the war. The conflict erupted in April 2023, shortly after Sudan and Russia reached an agreement to grant Moscow access to a naval base on the Red Sea. Initially, there were claims that Russia supported the RSF, but recent reports suggest Moscow has adopted a more neutral stance, calling for the restoration of civilian rule.
Efforts to mediate the conflict have been made by a regional grouping known as the Quad, which includes the United States, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. The first talks were held in September to establish an immediate ceasefire and resume humanitarian aid. However, both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF rejected the proposal, and communication between them remains broken.
The Sudanese Armed Forces have also expressed opposition to the UAE’s participation in the Quad, arguing that the UAE is fueling the conflict by arming the RSF and therefore lacks the moral standing to act as a mediator. It is also very interesting to understand that despite the immense brutality taking place in Sudan, the scale of devastation there far exceeds that of most other contemporary conflicts. In terms of sheer numbers, it would be correct to say that the war in Sudan is among the largest and deadliest in the world today. The magnitude of destruction and human suffering is second to none.
Despite this, President Trump, who often refers to himself as the “President of Peace”, has remained largely silent. There has been no direct reference or official statement from him calling for an end to the war in Sudan. He has, however, spoken about other African countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, even though the intensity of conflict there is nowhere near what is being witnessed in Sudan. This American attitude toward the Sudanese civil war is particularly notable. The last significant statement from the United States regarding Sudan came earlier during the Biden administration, when then Secretary of State Antony Blinken declared that the Rapid Support Forces were responsible for terrorist acts and accused them of committing genocide in the region. Since then, there has been no major statement or initiative from the Trump administration addressing the ongoing conflict.
While the United States is technically part of the Quad mechanism attempting to negotiate a ceasefire, it has not taken an active or direct leadership role in the process. This reflects a certain level of detachment in American engagement with the crisis.
When it comes to China, its role in the Sudan conflict is relatively distant. Beijing has chosen to maintain a cautious approach, refraining from involvement in Sudan’s internal conflict. Most of China’s current development initiatives in Africa are focused on the central and southern parts of the continent rather than the Sahel or Arabian extensions.
With nearly 60000 people killed since the start of the war, 13 million displaced, and major cities turned into graveyards, Sudan now faces one of the worst humanitarian disasters in recent memory. The country urgently requires a strong and coordinated regional and international effort to enforce a ceasefire and prevent further collapse.
Aayush Pal is a freelance writer on contemporary geopolitical developments. The views expressed in his work are entirely his own.
Garima Sharma