Geopolitics Review - 14th October 2024 - Hidden Wars: Sudan

Looking Forward In Sudan

Contents

1. Introduction

2. The Background In Sudan

3. The Players Involved

4. Potential Futures In Sudan

5. Concluding Remarks

---

Bitesize Edition

• Two weeks ago, I started a series I’ve been calling Hidden Wars. Many conflicts are unfolding globally with little to no coverage in the media. Hence I decided it’s an area that needs exploring. In my first post, I discussed the history of Sudan in a post I’d recommend reading first for context. Today, I’ll explore the present-day situation Sudan finds itself in, who the players are in the conflict, and where it could be heading next.

• There are multiple domestic players on the ground in Sudan, and geopolitical players such as Ukraine, the UAE, Iran, and Russia have interests in Sudan and involvement in the conflict, whether directly or indirectly. It’s worth exploring how these players continue to contribute to the volatile situation on the ground in Sudan.

---

Introduction

My first post set the foundations for the current situation in Sudan, including coverage of multiple coups, a history of colonialism, and the rise of multiple factions involved in the conflict today. For the history prevalent in this conflict, I recommend heading there first.

Geopolitics Review - 30th September 2024 - Hidden Wars: Sudan

If you’re covered with historical knowledge, let’s dive into the situation on the ground in Sudan today.

---

The Background In Sudan

In April 2023, the conflict in Sudan escalated between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) under General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) under Hemedti, who was Deputy Head of the 2019 Transitional Military Council following the coup that ousted Omar Al-Bashir. Plans to merge the RSF into the SAF failed as both Al-Burhan and Hemedti sought greater individual power.

Other minor groups involved in the conflict are the Darfur Joint Protection Force, SLM, and the SPLM-N. The SLM split off in 2006 following the Darfur Peace Agreement, which its leader, Al-Nur, refused to sign. The SPLM-N was formed after the independence of South Sudan in 2011 when the troops that remained in Sudan after the split named themselves SPLM-N, standing for Sudan People’s Liberation Army-North.

Most fighting occurs in and around Khartoum, as well as the region of Darfur. The conflict is one of the biggest humanitarian disasters globally, with over seven million displaced and over two million fleeing as refugees. Over 20,000 have been killed. Let’s go back to the start to analyse how we find ourselves in the situation we do today.