Foreign Actors in Sudan’s Unrest: What Are the Crisis’s Root Causes?
webangah News Agency, International Desk: Sudan, a vast country in the Horn of Africa divided by the Blue and White Nile rivers, has experienced deep humanitarian and political crises in recent years. Since April 2023,disputes between Sudanese army forces led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitaries under Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemeti) escalated into full-scale civil war. These clashes have resulted in over 20,000 deaths, 13 million displaced persons, and 30 million people requiring humanitarian aid. The fall of El Fasher-the capital of North Darfur state-on October 26, 2025 not only shifted the military balance but also raised fears of repeated genocides like those seen in the early 2000s.
The current crisis in Sudan is more than just an internal conflict; it stems from a complex mix of foreign interventions, tribal rivalries, and historical legacies.The United Arab Emirates has been accused as a supporter of the RSF forces. Meanwhile international pressure on Khartoum has intricate issues surrounding national sovereignty.
Roots of War and Expansion to Darfur
The Sudanese war emerged from internal divisions and elite military competition. After Omar al-Bashir’s ousting in 2019, former allies al-Burhan and Hemeti clashed over power-sharing and resource control. The RSF-originating from Darfur’s violent Janjaweed militias with a history of ethnic oppression-initially attacked Khartoum before expanding into western regions.
Darfur itself witnessed genocide during the early 2000s with over 300,000 killed; it has once again become a center for violence. El Fasher-with an estimated population around 800,000-was under siege by RSF forces for eighteen months prior to its October 2025 collapse. This defeat marked not only a military loss but also signaled worsening humanitarian conditions. Reports detail night raids on residential neighborhoods; abduction of women and children; destruction of homes; large-scale displacement-with many fleeing roughly seventy kilometers to Tawila-and witnessing massacres alongside mass graves.
War Crimes and Ethnic Cleansing
The fall of El Fasher symbolizes widespread human rights violations. Over fifteen hundred civilians were killed during just three days after its capture; most belonged to the Masalit ethnic group targeted for ethnic cleansing.Six medical personnel were abducted with hefty ransom demands severely impacting healthcare services. Hospitals turned into military targets while medical equipment was looted or destroyed. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights documented mass executions,systematic sexual violence against women-and tribal-based atrocities which intensified ethnic tensions creating an intense humanitarian crisis.
The Sudanese government labeled these acts as “terrorist” offenses while attempting to mobilize army support against RSF paramilitaries.
Foreign backing
the UAE plays a prominent role backing RSF forces through extensive military aid including armored vehicles and light weapons supplied to these militias according to multiple reports.
Analysts attribute this support partly to economic exploitation interests such as control over Darfur’s gold mines as well as access to Port Suakin on the Red Sea coast.
such external backing prolongs conflict duration while also triggering international debates on war crime accountability.
Humanitarian Situation & Critical Statistics
The scale of Sudan’s humanitarian disaster is staggering.
The United Nations reports that thirty million people require assistance; twenty-five million face severe food insecurity while thirteen million are internally displaced.
Many refugees fled across borders seeking shelter mainly in chad Egypt or Ethiopia.
In Darfur alone more than two hundred fifty thousand remain trapped under siege without reliable access to food medicine or security.
The blockade imposed by RSF troops effectively weaponizes starvation against civilians.
there are growing accounts pointing towards demographic cleansing efforts reshaping local populations-perhaps risking long-term social-ethnic instability throughout this region.
Main Internal Actors
This war primarily involves two major factions: The Sudanese army led by Abdul Fattah al-Burhan operating chiefly across eastern/southern areas prioritizing national dignity;
and externally supported Rapid Support Forces controlling western territories.
Islamist groups alongside local popular committees play critical roles defending civilians exposing atrocities.
Civil-military coalitions such as “Taqaddum” may prove decisive during post-conflict reconstruction stages though their internal unity remains fragile.
Limited-resource local committees stand out as some few nonmilitary protective structures amid chaos providing essential civilian security coverage critically important within this fragmented landscape.
International Responses
Global reaction unfolded slowly but resolutely: condemnation issued jointly from UN bodies African Union European Union alike;
the United States imposed sanctions targeting RSF commanders;
UN Secretary-General stressed cessation both arms flows plus ongoing violence overall success remains elusive so far simultaneously regional powers engaged mediation initiatives between opposing parties.
Public campaigns worldwide protests exert increased pressure toward foreign backers promoting diplomatic resolution though aid distribution still covers only fragments necessitated needs prolonging hardship here overall outlook stays bleak demanding sustained global commitments urgently required amidst escalating suffering conditions today.
Prospects For Peace
Ending hostilities remains possible but fragile considering multiple entrenched challenges ahead involving main paths identified below:
- Military-Security: ceasefire implementation integration rapid support units within army ranks formation transitional governance institutions;
- Political-Civilian: inclusive national dialog establishment transitional government association free fair elections;
- Humanitarian-Social: nationwide reconciliation reconstruction programs enforcement social justice mechanisms preventing revenge cycles .
Key enablers encompass mutual recognition neutralization external interferences engagement nonpartisan actors finally delivering justice thus deterring retaliatory attacks effectively restoring legitimacy through strengthening domestic institutions parliamentarian frameworks yet persistent fissures inside armed forces ambitious demands among rapid support factions together mounting outside pressures could undermine potential enduring stability jeopardizing peacebuilding prospects accordingly carefully calibrated strategies remain indispensable moving forward.
Conclusion :
SUDAN’S FALL OF EL FASHER along widespread crimes committed by THE RAPID SUPPORT FORCES coupled WITH INVOLVEMENT OF FOREIGN POWERS HAS TRANFORMED ITS SCENARIO INTO A MULTIFACETED COMPLEX CRISIS FORGING GROUNDS RESISTANCE STEADFAST ARMAMENTAL WILL INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENTS MAY POTENTIALLY LAY FOUNDATIONS TO RECOVERY AND LONG-TERM STABILITY ONLY THROUGH DEMONSTRABLE NATIONAL RECONCILIATION RESPECTING JUSTICE CONDITIONS LIMITING EXTERNAL INTERVENTIONS CAN SUSTAINABLY IMPROVE FUTURE OUTLOOK FORCEFULLY USING THESE UNDERCURRANTS REMAINS CHALLENGING BUT PARAMOUNT TO RESTORE NORMALCY .
BEHIND THE CONFLICT UAE ACTS AS PRINCIPAL PROVIDER ARMED EQUIPMENT GOLD SMUGGLING HELP EXTENDING WARFARE WHILE US ALTHOUGH CLAIMS NEUTRALITY INDIRECTLY LOGISTICALLY SUPPORT THROUGH PRIVATE MILITARY COMPANIES MILITARY BASES IN HORN AFRICA EUROPEAN UNION MAINTAINS NONTRANSPARENT GOLD TRADE SILENCE COMPLICATING ISSUES DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS AIMING CEASEFIRES HUMANITARIAN RELIEF INCLUDING CREATION QUADRIPARTITE COMMITTEE SO FAR SHOW LIMITED EFFECTIVENESS .
