Millions of innocent civilians have been killed in Sudan’s two-year-long armed conflict. Once close allies, army chief General Abdel Fattah Burhan and RSF leader General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo are now fighting for control, turning the capital Khartoum, Darfur, and several other regions into battlegrounds.
Human rights groups claim that the prolonged war is being sustained with foreign support. The United Arab Emirates has been identified as a key supplier. UAE’s controversial role is linked to the RSF-controlled gold mines, though Abu Dhabi has repeatedly denied the allegations.
During the war, the RSF has received weapons and fuel from various suppliers, with the UAE being the main source. Arms are reportedly sent through the Libya border as well as Chad and Uganda. In exchange, the UAE benefits as Sudan’s largest importer of gold.
Meanwhile, Egypt, Turkey, and Iran are accused of providing financial and military assistance to Sudan’s army. According to the Institute for War Studies, Egypt aims to repatriate millions of refugees from border areas. As a result, Cairo supplies arms and training to the government’s troops. Iran and Turkey are supporting Sudan’s army to strengthen their influence in the Red Sea and protect their strategic interests.
However, all these countries have consistently denied direct involvement in Sudan’s civil war. The UN and various human rights organizations continue to push for civilian protection and unrestricted humanitarian access in the conflict zones.