Sudan is witnessing one of the gravest humanitarian crises in modern history as the UAE-backed Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) continue to battle for control over natural resources and strategic access to the Red Sea. The conflict has resulted in over 150,000 deaths, the displacement of 14 million people, and 25 million facing hunger.
The Sudanese conflict erupted in April 2023 following power struggles between General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan’s Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Both factions, once allies in the 2021 coup, turned against each other for dominance over Sudan’s wealth and geopolitical access. Sudan holds 70% of the world’s gum arabic, a vital ingredient in global food and cosmetic industries and is rich in gold and natural resources, making it a key economic and strategic battleground.
The RSF has seized major gum arabic-producing regions and is allegedly trafficking Sudan’s gold to Dubai. Reports indicate that the UAE has supplied weapons and military equipment to the RSF, disguised as humanitarian aid through the Emirati Red Crescent. El Fasher, a city in Darfur, remains under siege by the RSF, with one million civilians trapped and aid blocked. The RSF is accused of burning villages, recruiting child soldiers, poisoning water sources, and targeting journalists, while the SAF continues indiscriminate carpet bombings. Healthcare and education systems have collapsed across vast parts of the country.
Control over Sudan’s Red Sea coastline and mineral wealth has turned the conflict into a geopolitical struggle attracting foreign interests. The UAE’s alleged involvement, coupled with regional instability across the Horn of Africa, threatens trade routes, energy security, and humanitarian operations in the region. The crisis could also destabilize neighboring countries like Chad, South Sudan, and Egypt, pushing more refugees across borders.
The human cost of the war is catastrophic. Reports describe mass sexual violence by the RSF, with survivors including children and the elderly. In 2024 alone, 130 women reportedly took their own lives to escape rape threats. Basic services have collapsed, famine is spreading, and millions are at risk of starvation and disease.
The international community has condemned the violence but taken limited action. The United Nations has called for immediate humanitarian access and investigations into war crimes. Human rights organizations are urging sanctions and international prosecution for atrocities committed by both the RSF and SAF.
