There is a war happening right now, and while the world’s eyes are understandably fixed on Gaza or Ukraine, we must talk about what is happening right here in Africa—specifically in Sudan. It is a war so brutal that millions have fled their homes, yet it has become so “forgotten” that even some African newsrooms barely mention it.
Behind the smoke and the silence lies a story of power, greed, and betrayal. Sudan’s war is not just about two generals fighting for control; it is a battle over who gets to own Africa’s resources and rewrite a nation’s future.
The Myth of “Tribal Chaos”
When people hear “Sudan,” they often think of farming, chaos, or refugees. This is the tired picture the world has always painted of African wars. But Sudan did not fall apart overnight. It was broken piece by piece by men who learned that in Africa, power is taken with a gun and sold with a handshake.
The Key Players: A Deadly Alliance Broken
The two main figures behind this destruction are:
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General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan: Head of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).
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Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti): Commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Once allies, these two worked together to remove Omar al-Bashir, Sudan’s long-time dictator. But as history shows, when you remove a strongman without fixing the system that created him, another takes his place. Now, they fight for power, money, land, and gold.
The Gold and the Proxy War
Sudan holds one of the largest gold reserves in Africa. This gold is smuggled daily through secret airstrips and across deserts.
Where does it end up?
Evidence points toward the United Arab Emirates (UAE). While the UAE denies involvement, international watchdogs have traced Chinese-made weapons supplied by the UAE to RSF fighters on the ground.
“While the world calls it a civil war, what is really happening is a business transaction. This is a proxy war disguised as internal chaos, where African blood is spilled to protect foreign interests.”
The UAE’s Strategic Grip
The UAE isn’t interested in Sudan for its people; it’s interested in what Sudan has that the Gulf lacks: agricultural land, minerals, and water.
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Agricultural Control: Sudan could feed half of Africa. Emirati companies have quietly bought tens of thousands of hectares. The food grown there doesn’t stay in Sudan; it’s exported to feed Gulf markets while Sudanese children starve.
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The Maritime Empire: By backing the RSF, the UAE secures shipping routes and ports along the Red Sea—stretching through Somalia, Djibouti, Eritrea, and Sudan. It is a “maritime empire” built one militia at a time.
The Complicity of African Neighbors: The Case of Kenya
The reality of African politics is often messy. Kenya, for instance, claims to be a neutral peacemaker under the African Union. Yet, Nairobi has hosted RSF leaders, even as they signed documents for a “transitional government.”
This move angered the official government in Khartoum and led to accusations that Kenya is taking sides. We see our leaders shaking hands with warlords by night while preaching Pan-Africanism by day. This “business as usual” approach with criminals is exactly why these conflicts persist.
Humanizing the Tragedy
We must look past the politics and see the people.
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12 million people are currently displaced.
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14 million people are facing acute hunger.
Imagine being a mother walking for days, leaving everything behind, not knowing if your husband is alive or if your home still stands. We have seen the videos of young men being beaten and women being targeted. These are our brothers and sisters.
| Sudan Crisis – December 2025 Statistics | Impact |
| Total Displaced | 12 Million+ |
| People in Need of Assistance | 30 Million+ |
| Death Toll Estimates | 150,000+ |
| Primary Resource at Stake | Gold & Fertile Land |
The Pattern of Extraction: From Sudan to Congo
There is a recurring pattern in African wars. It’s the same logic applied to the Congo (Cobalt), South Sudan (Oil), and Niger (Uranium).
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Destabilize: Create chaos.
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Divide: Use ethnicity to keep people fighting.
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Extract: Milk the land dry while the people are distracted.
Peace is viewed as a threat by those who profit from the chaos. A stable Sudan would be an independent Sudan—one that sets its own gold prices and feeds its own people. That is “dangerous” to the global system.
A Call to the Continent: Stand with Sudan
If Sudan collapses completely, all of Africa will feel it. We are already seeing refugees move into Chad, Egypt, and South Sudan. Weapons are being smuggled through the same routes once used for the slave trade. History is repeating itself because we allow outsiders to dictate our destiny.
What can you do?
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Raise Your Voice: If the world can light up monuments for Gaza and Ukraine, we can raise our voices for Sudan.
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Call Out the Funders: Use your social media handles to call out the entities funding this violence.
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Reject the Narrative: Stop calling it just a “civil war.” Call it what it is: Economic control through conflict.
We cannot wait for strangers to save us. Africa has 54 countries, yet we often act as if we are powerless. Today it is Sudan; tomorrow it could be your home. It’s time to stop being “home guards” for foreign interests and start defending our own.
Stand for Sudan. Because Africa’s peace depends on it.