On Saturday, April 15, chaos erupted in northern Africa as Sudan descended into what may become a civil war.
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) follow Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, and are operated by the government of Sudan. The RSF was originally founded to stop a rebellion more than 20 years ago, and were known for their violence. Dagalo is in charge of the RSF, and has repeatedly announced his intentions to lead Sudan.
Sudan is no stranger to turmoil. Right before the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2019, former Sudanese president Omar Hassan al-Bashir was overthrown by the military in hopes to create a freer Sudan. Once al-Bashir was overthrown, the military agreed to share the power in the government, but changed its mind two years later and took complete control of the country.
On the other side of the battle, facing the RSF, is the Sudanese Army, led by Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. Al-Burhan was aligned with al-Bashir before his downfall, and rose to command the Sudanese army. After the power-sharing agreement was signed, he became an important government figure. When the 2021 coup occurred, al-Burhan was at the forefront.
In the years since, the United States has attempted to provide aid to no avail.
Now, violence has once again erupted in Sudan, and tensions circle around the demand for regulation of the military and urges to integrate the RSF into the Sudanese military.
On Saturday, the death toll of several clashes in Sudan rose to 56, and control of Khartoum, the country’s capital, is in dispute. The destabilization of the region could have devastating impacts globally.
Sudan is settled directly across from Saudi Arabia, with the Red Sea separating the two countries. It’s also directly south of Egypt, and is surrounded by several other politically unstable countries. The country was designated as a state sponsor of terrorism, but before the 2019 uprising, the United States lifted that designation.
The surrounding countries, including Egypt, could be swept into the battle. As violence spreads, the small conflict has the potential to become larger and an international issue.
According to the World Population Review, Sudan has one of the lowest human development indexes, and many of its residents live in poverty. Because of the conflict, organizations like the United Nations World Food Program have had to cease operations in the area, denying much-needed aid to its occupants.
The U.S. and U.N. are not the only entities with eyes on Sudan, though. Russia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates all have stake in the region and may attempt to use the conflict to their advantage.
Some Sudanese military leaders have expressed openness to a Russian military base on the Red Sea, which would provide a direct route between Africa and the Middle East.
The fighting is not simply concentrated in the capital. The region of Darfur, which is known for conflict and its rebel groups, has also seen violence in the past week. The fighting may have also spread to Egypt.
As conflict continues, the U.S. and its allies hope for a resolution before fighting spreads.
