Foreign Backers Fuel Sudan’s War as Atrocities and Hunger Multiply

Foreign Backers Fuel Sudan’s War as Atrocities and Hunger Multiply

For more than two years, Sudan has been torn apart by a bitter power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a powerful paramilitary formation. Both sides have resisted peace efforts even as large-scale atrocities, mass displacement and severe food insecurity deepen across the country.

Turning Point: el-Fasher and Escalation in Darfur

The conflict escalated dramatically after Oct. 26, when the RSF seized the regional city of el-Fasher in Darfur from the Sudanese Armed Forces. According to witnesses and humanitarian groups, fighters carried out deadly attacks on civilians; hundreds are reported killed and the fate of thousands more remains unknown.

Accusations of War Crimes and Possible Genocide

Both the Sudanese military and the RSF face accusations of mass killings, sexual violence and other grave violations. U.S. officials have said that repeated large-scale killings and rapes by RSF fighters have reached the threshold of genocide in some cases. International monitors, the United Nations and rights groups continue to document serious abuses across multiple regions.

Outside Support Sustains the Fighting

Analysts and intelligence assessments say external backing has helped both sides sustain operations and deepen the conflict. U.S. intelligence reports and a U.N. panel of experts have assessed that the United Arab Emirates has supplied weapons to the RSF and provided channels for the sale of gold that helps finance the force. The UAE has denied supplying arms and said it supports efforts to secure a ceasefire and protect civilians.

On the other side, Egypt is widely reported to back the Sudanese Armed Forces. Cairo is said to prefer a military-led government in Sudan as a reliable security partner, in part because of shared strategic interests tied to the Nile and Red Sea. Egypt denies providing arms, and publicly calls for an end to the flow of weapons and a humanitarian ceasefire.

What Weapons and Resources Are Involved?

U.S. assessments indicate deliveries to the RSF included Chinese-made armed and unarmed drones, heavy machine guns, small arms, mortars and artillery. A U.N. experts panel in January 2024 described reports of arms shipments to the RSF routed through neighboring Chad as credible. Sanctions have targeted companies and networks alleged to have facilitated gold sales and transferred equipment.

Competition over lucrative commodities such as gold and gum arabic has helped finance the conflict. Both the military and the RSF have sold resources from territory they control to fund fighters and procure weapons. Investigators say gold has been moved through routes that include the UAE and Egypt.

Regional Reach and Proxy Dynamics

Observers link the UAE's support for the RSF to a broader regional strategy aimed at countering Islamist movements and expanding influence through proxies. Hamid Khalafallah, a Sudan researcher, says Abu Dhabi views paramilitary partners as a means to extend influence beyond formal state channels. Cameron Hudson, of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, has warned that the UAE has cultivated a network of financial and military support running through neighboring states.

The RSF, whose roots lie in the Janjaweed militias implicated in the Darfur atrocities of the 2000s, has adopted more sophisticated battlefield tactics this year, particularly extensive use of drones. While the regular army briefly retook Khartoum in April, the RSF has continued to advance in Darfur and Kordofan.

Diplomacy: The U.S.-Led Quartet and a Fragile Truce Proposal

The United States convened a mediation group — often called the Quartet or Quad — that includes Egypt, the UAE and Saudi Arabia. In September the Quad proposed a plan for a three-month humanitarian truce followed by a nine-month political process. The RSF has indicated agreement to the humanitarian truce; the Sudanese military has conditioned any ceasefire on the RSF withdrawing from civilian areas and surrendering heavy weapons.

Attempts to force direct talks between the RSF and the military have had limited success. Some analysts argue the more pragmatic approach is to pressure external backers to stop supplying weapons and financing; many point to the United States as positioned to lead that diplomatic pressure.

Humanitarian Catastrophe

The war, which began in 2023 after the two forces—who once shared power—turned on one another, has killed at least 40,000 people according to official tallies, though humanitarian organizations warn the true toll is likely much higher. The fighting has spawned what U.N. officials call the world's worst humanitarian crisis, with millions displaced and widespread hunger.

Key takeaway: External support for both sides has prolonged the fighting, widened regional involvement and complicated diplomatic efforts while civilians continue to suffer devastating abuses and severe food shortages.

Reporting contributed by Associated Press correspondents Michelle L. Price and Sarah El Deeb.