Sudan's Forgotten War: How Global Players Influence Africa's Bloodshed

In April 2023, Sudan once again found itself at the centre of one of the most brutal civil conflicts in modern times. The power struggle between two powerful military leaders – General Abdulfattah Al-Bukhara and Mohammed Hamdan Daglo, known as Hamiti – has turned the country into an arena of fierce fighting, massive human rights violations, and an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. Yet, despite the serious scale of the conflict and its consequences, the international community remains distant from what is happening, making Sudan the “forgotten war” of our time.

The current conflict has its roots in the reign of Omar al-Bashir, who ruled Sudan for more than 30 years, from 1989 to 2019. Al-Bashir came to power in a military coup, overthrowing the democratically elected government. He established a harsh regime based on conservative Islamic law and the repression of opposition. One of the most horrific episodes of al-Bashir's rule is associated with the war in Darfur in the early 2000s. In response to an uprising by local ethnic groups, the Sudanese government brought in punitive squads – the Janjaweed – who were given "carte blanche" to suppress the rebellion by any means necessary. The Janjaweed were notorious for their brutality, committing mass murder and sexual violence against civilians, which led to the deaths of more than 300,000 people and the forced displacement of millions.

In 2019, under pressure from mass protests, al-Bashir was overthrown and a transitional government was established. However, instead of bringing about democratic reforms and stability, the country found itself in the midst of a new power struggle between the two factions that had previously supported al-Bashir’s overthrow: the Sudanese Army, led by General Abdulfattah Al-Bukhara, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by Mohammed Hamdan Daglo (Hamiti).

The Sudanese Civil War began in April 2023 when tensions between the Sudanese Army and the RSF over the RSF's integration into the regular military escalated into open clashes in Khartoum and other major cities. General Al-Bukhara aimed to subjugate the RSF, while Hamiti resisted, fearing a loss of influence. The fighting quickly spread, with Khartoum, Omdurman, and the conflict-ridden region of Darfur becoming key battlegrounds. Today, Sudan is effectively split between the east, controlled by the Sudanese army, and the west, including Darfur, held by the RSF.

The conflict in Sudan has caused one of the worst humanitarian disasters in modern African history. According to the International Rescue Committee, more than 15,000 people have already died, although the true death toll may be as high as 150,000. About 12 million people have been forced to flee their homes, becoming internally displaced persons. The food situation in the country is rapidly deteriorating; according to the IPC (Integrated Food Security Phase Classification), more than half of Sudan’s population, or about 25 million people, require humanitarian aid. The situation is especially dire in Darfur, where food security is at a critical level.

The war in Sudan has attracted the attention of several international players who view the conflict through their economic and geopolitical interests. One of the most influential is the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which supports Hamiti and his RSF. The UAE provides weapons and funding in exchange for access to Darfur gold. Darfur gold is one of the RSF’s main economic resources, allowing Hamiti to finance his operations and maintain the fighting capacity of his army.

Russia also has interests in this conflict. Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group were spotted in Sudan before the outbreak of active hostilities. They provided the RSF with military advisers and weapons, helping to strengthen their position in the early stages of the war. However, in 2024, the situation changed: under pressure from Iran or in an attempt to adapt to the altered situation, Russia began to support the Sudanese army. This was an unexpected turn in a conflict where geopolitics is becoming a key factor for survival.

Iran, in turn, actively supports the Sudanese army. This support includes the supply of drones and other high-tech weapons, which help the army conduct successful operations against the RSF. Iran's participation is driven by the desire to strengthen its position in Africa and gain access to the strategically important Red Sea coast.

All sides in Sudan's conflict face allegations of atrocities. The RSF is accused of mass killings, sexual violence, and looting, with Human Rights Watch documenting abuses against women and girls in Khartoum, Omdurman, and Darfur. The Sudanese army has also committed abuses, indiscriminately shelling civilian areas and blocking humanitarian aid to RSF-controlled regions.

The Sudanese war has been ongoing for over a year, yet it remains virtually unnoticed by the global community. As during the war in Darfur, where international organisations limited themselves to statements about the need to stop the genocide, today the world is turning its back on Sudan. As a result, regional players such as the UAE, Russia, and Iran are given carte blanche to play their geopolitical games in the region.

Recent US-UN talks in Geneva still offer hope for an end to the conflict. If peace talks fail, Sudan could face further escalation or a transition to a frozen conflict similar to Libya. Darfur would remain under RSF control, allowing Hamiti to continue to benefit from its natural resources.

The civil war in Sudan demonstrates how the thirst for power and resources can devastate a country, creating a bloody conflict zone and causing immense suffering for millions through violence, hunger, and displacement. Beyond the humanitarian crisis, the conflict severely impacts businesses both within and outside Sudan. Destroyed infrastructure, paralysed logistics, and constant violence make safe business operations impossible, leading to asset losses and security concerns for employees. As a result, many companies are relocating to more stable regions, while instability deters new investment and undermines economic potential. The conflict also disrupts cross-border trade, creating further risks for businesses in the region, making Sudan an extremely unfavourable environment for investment.