Without external support, no side in the conflict in Sudan would be able to continue waging war. The country is experiencing one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world. In recent days, Sudan has also become the scene of mass killings and atrocities against civilians in Al Fashir.
The war in Sudan broke out in April 2023, when the local militia "Rapid Response Force" (RSF) and the Sudanese army entered into armed clashes over the integration of the militia into the country's troops. Given that the fighting does not stop, the number of victims can only be guessed at, but the UN speaks of over 140,000 dead. Currently, nearly half of Sudan's 51 million inhabitants depend on humanitarian aid. Disease is spreading in the country, and huge numbers of people are starving.
Observers believe that Sudan's internationally recognized government, which also leads the army, is supported by Egypt, Turkey, Russia and Iran. The Egyptians and Saudis deny supporting any armed faction in the conflict. RSF is said to be receiving support from the UAE, but they also deny it. The "Rapid Reaction Force" has many supporters who supply it with weapons and fuel, but the main one remains the United Arab Emirates," says Hager Ali, a researcher at the think tank "German Institute for Global and Regional Studies”.
What the UAE is doing in Sudan
The UAE not only denies the accusations, but in turn makes similar accusations to the Sudanese army, even demanding an apology. In recent days, Abu Dhabi has publicly condemned the atrocities committed by the RSF and announced that it will send humanitarian aid worth 100 million US dollars. However, the UN and other international organizations have evidence that the militia's weapons and ammunition come from the UAE. "We are talking about Chinese-made drones, light weapons, assault rifles, military vehicles, artillery, mortars and ammunition", sources from US services told the "Wall Street Journal".
In 2024, the UN explained in a report that the RSF are also linked to Libyan General Khalifa Haftar and his armed groups, which have their own existing mechanisms for placing weapons. "We know that the UAE has brought weapons directly across the Libyan border into Sudan, but also through Chad and Uganda", says Hager Ali. "In return, the UAE, as traditionally the largest importer of Sudanese gold, maintains its access to the resource". For the militia, Sudanese gold is one of the most important resources with which they carry out transactions - currently most of the gold mines in the country are under their control.
"It can be safely assumed that the weapons that the RSF are currently using do not come from just a few suppliers, but from the entire Sahel", believes expert Ali, who explains that supplies are often carried out by the Africa Corps - the renamed African division of the PMC "Wagner". Before his term ended in January this year, Joe Biden imposed sanctions on both sides of the conflict and on seven UAE companies accused of supplying RSF with weapons and other necessary resources.
What other interests are at play in Sudan
Egypt is a major supporter of the army and recognizes the government. According to the independent think tank "Institute of War" Egypt has also trained army pilots and provided them with drones. Cairo denies this. Egypt's goal is to keep the conflict away from its borders, as well as gradually return millions of refugees to Sudan.
Another supplier of the Sudanese army is Iran, which also provides drones to that country in the war. Tehran hopes in this way to secure a port on the Red Sea from which it can continue to support the Houthis in Yemen. Sudan is already believed to be used as a logistical hub for the Houthis. Turkey also supplies the Sudanese army with drones and missiles. Ankara's interests also lie in access to the Red Sea.
Although the Russian-linked African Corps is intervening on the side of the RSF, Moscow plays a minor role in the conflict in Sudan, says Achim Vogt of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation: "They have economic interests, mainly in gold exports and in connection with the ports, but they have made it quite clear that they have no interest in interfering in what they call an internal conflict."
Can external pressure lead to a ceasefire?
The real influence on Sudan can be exerted by the US, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, Vogt believes. They are part of the so-called "Quad Initiative", whose idea is to build a roadmap for ending the war or at least achieving a humanitarian truce. Although these countries have their own interests in Sudan, they met for talks with the idea of achieving a three-month ceasefire - to no avail. On the same day that the talks took place, the RSF took over Al-Fashir and carried out mass killings.
For Letizia Bader, director of "Human Rights Watch" for the Horn of Africa, the scale and gravity of the latest outrages in and around Al-Fashir should now lead to "consequences for the leadership of the "Rapid Reaction Force" and their supporters, particularly the UAE, who continue to provide support despite clear evidence of crimes," she said. "We would like to see the UN Security Council immediately move to impose sanctions on the leaders of RSF," Bader said, calling on the international community to ensure that political and criminal responsibility is met. Following international outrage over the mass killings and atrocities, the Rapid Reaction Force has arrested several of its fighters. But observers say the atrocities continue.
Author: Jennifer Hollis