Sudan’s Agony: A Deep Dive into the World’s Worst Humanitarian Crisis and Its Global Enablers

The raw images streaming from Sudan paint a picture of utter devastation: cities reduced to ash, hospitals flattened, and endless rivers of humanity fleeing across unforgiving deserts. The recent horrors in El Fasher, the last government stronghold in Darfur, on October 26, 2025, underscore the escalating brutality. An assault by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) reportedly culminated in the execution of hundreds of civilians inside a maternity hospital, a stark testament to a war where no line remains uncrossed.

This conflict, though frequently portrayed as a localized power struggle between two generals, has metastasized into the world’s most catastrophic humanitarian crisis. It is a war not fought in isolation, but meticulously fueled by a complex web of foreign governments, corporations, smugglers, and militaries, each driven by billions of dollars in gold, control of the Red Sea, the intricate politics of the Nile’s waters, and vast geopolitical ambitions spanning the Middle East, Africa, and beyond.

The Genesis of a Catastrophe: April 15, 2023

The nightmare began on April 15, 2023, when Sudan’s national army, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), clashed violently with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The capital, Khartoum, instantly transformed into a bloody battlefield, marking the beginning of Sudan’s descent.

Since that day, the United Nations has unequivocally labeled the situation as the largest humanitarian disaster globally:

Mass Displacement: Over 12 million people have been displaced, a staggering figure that shatters all previous African records.
Widespread Hunger: More than 25 million Sudanese—a staggering half of the country’s entire population—now face acute hunger, staring down the barrel of famine.
Healthcare Annihilation: In the heart of conflict zones, at least 90% of all hospitals have collapsed, leaving millions without access to vital medical care.
Mounting Death Toll: While conservative estimates place combat deaths in the tens of thousands, the true toll, once famine, disease, and the utter collapse of healthcare are factored in, is projected to exceed 150,000 people by late 2025.

A Divided Nation: The Geographic Split

Today, the map of Sudan is starkly bisected:

The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) exert control over Sudan’s northeast, including the fertile Nile Valley, strategic sections of Khartoum, and the vital coastal city of Port Sudan.
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), on the other hand, dominate nearly all of Darfur, including El Fasher, after their brutal takeover. Their control over western Sudan is characterized by widespread looting, forced displacement, and documented atrocities, including the targeted killings of non-Arab ethnic groups.

This is the grim reality: a nation fractured, a populace starved, and a war seemingly without end.

The Men Behind the Armies: A Deep-Rooted Rivalry

The Sudanese war is often simplified as a personal rivalry between two generals. However, its roots delve far deeper into Sudan’s historical and social fractures.

General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the SAF: The SAF has been the bedrock of Sudanese politics since the nation gained independence in 1956. Its leadership traditionally hails from the Arab elites of the Nile Valley, particularly from Khartoum and its surrounding regions. General al-Burhan rose through this deeply entrenched, traditional military hierarchy.

Hemedti and the RSF: The Rapid Support Forces emerge from a dramatically different lineage. They are the direct descendants of the Janjawid militias, Arab nomadic fighters whom former dictator Omar al-Bashir armed in the early 2000s to brutally suppress rebellions in Darfur. These militias are infamous for carrying out genocide against the Masalit and Zagawa communities. In 2017, al-Bashir formally rebranded the Janjawid into the RSF, a paramilitary group, and placed Muhammad Hamdan Dagolo, known as Hemedti, a former camel trader, in command.

Hemedti rapidly transformed into one of Sudan’s wealthiest men by seizing control of gold mines in Darfur. He leveraged these immense profits to forge a private army of nearly 100,000 highly mobile, heavily armed, and fiercely loyal fighters.

In 2019, al-Burhan and Hemedti collaborated to overthrow al-Bashir and agreed to a transitional plan with civilian leaders. Yet, their uneasy alliance proved fragile. By October 2021, they staged a joint coup, but by early 2023, escalating tensions over the integration of the RSF into the national army set them on an irreversible collision course.

Beyond the Generals: Deeper Fractures. This internal rivalry masks profound, historical fractures:

The divide between the center and the periphery.
The chasm between Arab elites and non-Arab communities.
The conflict between state institutions and burgeoning paramilitary power.
The disparity between those who control Sudan’s vast natural wealth and those systemically excluded from it.

However, even these deep internal divisions do not fully explain the war’s protracted nature. For that, we must look far beyond Sudan’s borders.

Sudan’s Strategic Value: Why the World Cares

Sudan is not a marginal country; its geography alone guarantees intense global interest:

Red Sea Gateway: With 800 kilometers of Red Sea coastline, Sudan sits directly on one of the world’s most critical maritime routes. Up to 15% of global trade, valued at over a trillion dollars annually, traverses these waters. Control over Sudan’s Red Sea ports offers significant leverage over a global shipping artery.
Gold Riches: Sudan is Africa’s third-largest gold producer. Much of this gold lies within RSF-controlled territory, particularly in Darfur, fueling lucrative smuggling networks tied directly to foreign powers, most notably the United Arab Emirates. This makes Sudan an immensely profitable extraction zone.
Fertile Farmlands: The Nile River basin within Sudan contains some of Africa’s most fertile land. Gulf states, especially the UAE, have long eyed these lands as crucial for their food security strategies.
The Nile’s Politics: Sudan’s alignment profoundly impacts Egypt’s national survival, particularly in its ongoing dispute with Ethiopia over the Grand Renaissance Dam. When Sudan burns, powerful neighbors pay attention—not to save Sudan, but to secure their own strategic interests.

The External Enablers: Who Funds the War Machines?

Foreign powers do not fund Sudan’s war out of charity; they do so because Sudan offers compelling strategic returns.

The UAE: The RSF’s Primary Patron

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) stands out as the most decisive external actor supporting the RSF, with overwhelming evidence to back this claim:

Arms Shipments: Between late 2023 and late 2024, at least 86 UAE cargo flights landed at Amdjarass airport in Chad, just 50 kilometers from Sudan’s border. These flights reportedly carried a steady stream of weapons, ammunition, armored vehicles, and drone systems, funneled directly to the RSF through Chad and southern Libya.
Advanced Weaponry: Investigators have documented RSF fighters utilizing Chinese-made guided bombs, howitzers, and sophisticated drone systems, all manufactured by Chinese defense companies and initially exported to the UAE before appearing on Sudanese battlefields. Photographs from captured RSF bases in Khartoum corroborate these newly delivered weapons.
Logistical Support: The RSF has also received extensive logistical support, including fuel, medical supplies, and armored transport carriers, all routed through UAE-aligned networks in Libya, Chad, and the Central African Republic.
Colombian Mercenaries: Between 350 and 380 Colombian army veterans were reportedly recruited through UAE-linked companies, flown through Abu Dhabi, trained in drone warfare, and subsequently deployed into Darfur. In August 2025, the Sudanese Air Force allegedly shot down a UAE aircraft near Nyala, carrying 40 Colombian fighters and a shipment of weapons.

Why the UAE Backs the RSF So Aggressively:

Gold: The RSF controls Sudan’s largest gold mines, and Dubai has become the main destination for smuggled Sudanese gold—a multi-billion dollar pipeline directly funding the RSF’s war efforts while enriching Emirati companies.
Farmland: The UAE, with limited arable land, has a long-standing global food security strategy that involves acquiring or leasing farmland abroad. Sudan’s fertile lands have long been eyed as a potential breadbasket. Before the conflict, Emirati companies were already cultivating large tracts, with plans for even larger agricultural projects linked to port development. Reports suggest that previous Sudanese governments rejected some Emirati agricultural deals due to minimal local benefits, leading to the RSF being seen as a “practical option” for foreign investors to secure control over land and resources.
Strategic Influence: A client RSF-controlled region would grant the UAE significant leverage over Sudan’s Red Sea ports and shipping lanes.
Ideological: The RSF is perceived as a bulwark against Islamist networks, which the UAE considers a threat. These networks often align with factions within the SAF.
Rivalry with Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia quietly leans towards the SAF, making support for the RSF a strategic counter-move for the UAE.

The SAF’s Broader Coalition

The Sudanese Armed Forces are supported by a more diverse geopolitical constellation, each with its own interests:

Egypt: As the SAF’s most crucial partner, Cairo fears an RSF victory would destabilize its southern border and weaken its position in the ongoing Nile water dispute. Egypt has supplied K8 fighter jets, drones, ammunition, and training. Egyptian airstrikes have also reportedly supported SAF operations around Khartoum and the Nile Valley.
Iran: Following the restoration of diplomatic ties with Sudan in late 2023, Iran quickly entered the fray. Iranian drones began appearing on Sudanese battlefields in early 2024, transported via cargo flights to Port Sudan. These drones have played a significant role in helping the SAF regain territory.
Turkey: Ankara supports the SAF with drones, air-to-surface missiles, and advanced command systems. This aligns with Turkey’s broader support for Islamist networks, positioning Ankara opposite the UAE’s regional stance.
Qatar: Provides diplomatic backing and crucial political support to the SAF.
Saudi Arabia: Though cautious, Saudi Arabia has purportedly financed arms purchases for the SAF, including Pakistani weapons and aircraft engines, primarily seeking regional stability and protection for its Red Sea investments.
Russia: Russia plays a cynical double game. While Wagner networks historically assisted the RSF’s gold smuggling routes, Moscow has simultaneously offered arms to the SAF in exchange for a potentially strategic naval base in Port Sudan. Russia stands to benefit regardless of the victor.

The Broader Catastrophe: Sudan’s Regional Ripple Effect

Sudan’s suffering is not an unforeseen side effect; it is the calculated price paid for other nations’ ambitions. And this price is not being paid by Sudan alone.

Sudan’s collapse gravely threatens the entire region:

Refugee Crisis: Over 3.5 million refugees have poured into Chad, Egypt, and South Sudan, overwhelming already strained resources.
Weapon Proliferation: Weapons flow in both directions, actively arming militias across the fragile Sahel and Horn of Africa regions.
Economic Instability: Food prices are spiking across East Africa as Sudan’s agricultural output, once a regional breadbasket, vanishes.
Regional Fragmentation: The risk of Sudan fragmenting into rival, ungovernable states continues to grow, creating a power vacuum.
Shipping Lane Threat: Instability along Sudan’s Red Sea coast jeopardizes one of the world’s most important shipping routes, already strained by global tensions elsewhere.
Extremist Haven: A failed Sudan could easily become a haven for extremist movements, linking the Sahel to the Horn of Africa and further destabilizing the continent.

This war is far from contained; it is rapidly becoming regional.

Why You Should Care: A Call to Action

Genocide has already been extensively documented, particularly against the Masalit people in Darfur. Yet, the world’s response remains shockingly timid. An arms embargo on Darfur exists, but it has proven meaningless. Weapons continue to flow unimpeded: from the UAE to the RSF, and from Egypt, Iran, and Turkey to the SAF.

Humanitarian corridors are routinely blocked. Aid groups are attacked, and famine spreads relentlessly.

Ending Sudan’s war demands more than expressions of concern. It requires concrete action:

Targeting Supply Chains: Stopping the foreign supply chains that sustain the conflict is paramount.
Sanctions on Gold Networks: Implementing robust sanctions specifically targeting the gold smuggling networks that finance the RSF.
Accountability for Enablers: Holding governments accountable for arming forces that commit documented atrocities.
Empowering African Diplomacy: Prioritizing and empowering African-led diplomatic initiatives, rather than allowing external actors to hijack peace processes for their own gain.

Sudan is not collapsing because the world has forgotten it. It is collapsing because too many powerful foreign nations remember its immense value—its gold, its ports, its fertile farmland, its strategic location—and none are willing to let it go. This is the tragic, globally entangled story of Sudan.