Since the outbreak of armed conflict in Sudan in April 2023, the country has become the centre of one of Africa’s most devastating humanitarian and political crises. The confrontation between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces has displaced millions of people, devastated urban centres, and intensified debates across the continent about sovereignty, resource governance, and external influence in African conflicts.
While the war is rooted in longstanding political tensions linked to Sudan’s transition following the removal of former president Omar al Bashir in 2019, analysts increasingly point to the role of strategic resources and economic networks in sustaining the violence. Gold, agricultural land, gum arabic, and access to the Red Sea have emerged as central factors shaping both domestic and regional calculations.
Sudan remains one of Africa’s largest gold producers, and the sector has become deeply intertwined with the conflict economy. According to investigations by the United Nations, gold revenues have enabled armed actors to finance military operations and maintain supply chains despite international scrutiny. Researchers and regional observers have documented how gold from conflict affected areas has moved through informal trading routes into neighbouring countries and international markets, including the Gulf.
The Rapid Support Forces, which evolved from the Janjaweed militias active during the Darfur conflict, have historically maintained influence over several mining regions. Reports by organisations including Human Rights Watch and Global Witness suggest that competition over mining sites and trade corridors has become increasingly significant as the conflict has expanded across Sudan.
Another commodity attracting regional attention is gum arabic, a natural resin widely used in food production, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing. Sudan accounts for a substantial share of global supply, making the commodity strategically important to international industries. Commercial disruptions caused by the war have raised concerns across African and global markets about supply security and the economic vulnerability of local farming communities dependent on the trade.
Agricultural land has also become central to broader geopolitical interests. Sudan possesses some of the continent’s most fertile farmland and has long been viewed as a potential agricultural hub capable of contributing to African and Middle Eastern food security. Gulf states, including the United Arab Emirates, have invested heavily in Sudanese agriculture over the past decade. Supporters of these investments argue they offer infrastructure development and employment opportunities, while critics contend that unequal agreements and instability risk undermining local communities and national sovereignty.
Attention has similarly focused on Sudan’s Red Sea coastline, which holds major strategic value for trade and maritime security. In 2022, Sudan signed an agreement linked to the development of Abu Amama port on the Red Sea coast. The project formed part of broader regional ambitions involving logistics, infrastructure, and access to maritime trade routes connecting Africa, the Gulf, and Asia. Political instability and armed conflict have since complicated these ambitions and heightened competition among regional actors seeking influence in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea corridor.
The role of the United Arab Emirates has become one of the most debated aspects of the conflict. Sudanese authorities and several international observers have alleged that the UAE has provided support to the Rapid Support Forces through financial networks, arms transfers, and logistical assistance. A number of media investigations and monitoring groups have pointed to allegations involving weapons shipments and military supplies entering Sudan through regional routes.
The UAE has consistently denied accusations that it is fuelling the conflict. Emirati officials have stated that their engagement in Sudan is focused on humanitarian assistance and regional stability. Abu Dhabi has also rejected claims linking it to military support for armed factions, arguing that allegations presented by its critics lack sufficient evidence.
In March 2025, Sudan initiated proceedings at the [International Court of Justice](https://www.icj cj.org/) accusing the UAE of complicity in acts linked to the conflict. The case has intensified diplomatic tensions and placed renewed international attention on the responsibilities of external actors operating in fragile states. Legal experts note that proceedings at the court are likely to be lengthy and politically sensitive.
Across Africa, the war has generated wider conversations about the relationship between conflict, natural resources, and foreign intervention. Regional analysts argue that the Sudan crisis reflects broader structural challenges facing many African states where strategic resources attract competing international interests while local populations bear the human cost of instability.
The African Union and regional organisations have repeatedly called for a negotiated settlement and greater protection for civilians. Humanitarian agencies estimate that millions of Sudanese citizens now face acute food insecurity, while large numbers have sought refuge in neighbouring countries including Chad, South Sudan, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the Central African Republic.
African scholars and civil society groups have also emphasised the importance of moving beyond narratives that portray Sudan solely through the lens of violence or external intervention. They argue that Sudan’s crisis must also be understood within the context of unfinished political transitions, regional economic inequalities, climate pressures, and the resilience of local communities attempting to preserve social cohesion amid state fragmentation.
For many observers across the continent, Sudan represents not only a national tragedy but also a defining test of Africa’s capacity to shape its own peacebuilding agenda in an increasingly competitive geopolitical environment. As diplomatic efforts continue, the conflict remains a stark reminder of how strategic resources, regional rivalries, and unresolved political transitions can converge with devastating consequences for civilian populations.
