Very under-reported tragedy and extremely complex geopolitical conflict.
For those not in the know, Al-Bashir was dictator for decades and one tool of keeping power was to create two parallel militaries so neither one would be in a position to hold a coup. In 2019, they teamed up and got rid of Al-Bashir, following a process of trying to set up a new system. They were getting close to a deal but that would have involved merging those two forces which would have taken away one of their power-bases so they chose war instead.
The sides are the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. The Armed forces have more formal military equipment but are seen by some as part of the corrupt power structure from Al-Bashir's era. The RSF on the other hand were more of a militia and were partly formed by the Janjaweed fighters who were responsible for the genocide in Darfur and are using the fighting as an excuse to continue it.
And the complicating factor is Sudan has, gold, oil, and a Red Sea port. That has drawn all sorts of international players. Egypt has always seen Sudan as their plaything and have been involved in keeping division between Sudan's Arab and African populations. Wagner has been active in Sudan for a decade or so and Russia has been funding the RSF for the much needed gold. This has brought Ukrainian special forces to back the SAF to prevent Russia from profiting. UAE has been seeing it as a place where they can continue their expansion of influence like they have in Yemen. Saudi is involved because the same reason and to reduce UAE's influence and has been playing both sides. Iran sees it as a way to expand their "axis of resistance" and have been funnelling arms to the RSF from their proxies in Chad and Libya. China is desperate for a military and naval base to control and defend their oil supplies from the Middle East. Because Russia and China are involved, the US of course is there. Israel has sold weapons there and has been happy that the US helped coordinate Sudan's government (SAF) recognizing Israel. The UN and African Union are interested in regional stability.
On the humanitarian side, something like 30,000 dead in the past 11 months including a slaughter of 10,000 people (RSF's Arab fighters killing African civilians). There are also something like 8 million refugees or internally displaced people, many of them ethnic Africans chased out by the RSF. Add in massive starvation, widespread sexual violence, cholera, etc, and it is a criminally underreported crisis.
But I'm sure this topic won't be found interesting to many here.
For those not in the know, Al-Bashir was dictator for decades and one tool of keeping power was to create two parallel militaries so neither one would be in a position to hold a coup. In 2019, they teamed up and got rid of Al-Bashir, following a process of trying to set up a new system. They were getting close to a deal but that would have involved merging those two forces which would have taken away one of their power-bases so they chose war instead.
The sides are the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. The Armed forces have more formal military equipment but are seen by some as part of the corrupt power structure from Al-Bashir's era. The RSF on the other hand were more of a militia and were partly formed by the Janjaweed fighters who were responsible for the genocide in Darfur and are using the fighting as an excuse to continue it.
And the complicating factor is Sudan has, gold, oil, and a Red Sea port. That has drawn all sorts of international players. Egypt has always seen Sudan as their plaything and have been involved in keeping division between Sudan's Arab and African populations. Wagner has been active in Sudan for a decade or so and Russia has been funding the RSF for the much needed gold. This has brought Ukrainian special forces to back the SAF to prevent Russia from profiting. UAE has been seeing it as a place where they can continue their expansion of influence like they have in Yemen. Saudi is involved because the same reason and to reduce UAE's influence and has been playing both sides. Iran sees it as a way to expand their "axis of resistance" and have been funnelling arms to the RSF from their proxies in Chad and Libya. China is desperate for a military and naval base to control and defend their oil supplies from the Middle East. Because Russia and China are involved, the US of course is there. Israel has sold weapons there and has been happy that the US helped coordinate Sudan's government (SAF) recognizing Israel. The UN and African Union are interested in regional stability.
On the humanitarian side, something like 30,000 dead in the past 11 months including a slaughter of 10,000 people (RSF's Arab fighters killing African civilians). There are also something like 8 million refugees or internally displaced people, many of them ethnic Africans chased out by the RSF. Add in massive starvation, widespread sexual violence, cholera, etc, and it is a criminally underreported crisis.
But I'm sure this topic won't be found interesting to many here.
