Since April 2023, Sudan has been mired in a brutal civil war that has killed over 150,000 people and displaced 11 million.
The conflict, largely ignored by the world, pits the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), former allies who jointly ousted Islamist dictator Omar al-Bashir in 2019.
The international response has been minimal, despite credible reports that the SAF has used chemical weapons and committed mass atrocities.
Most regional powers, including U.S. allies like Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, support the SAF, hoping for access to Red Sea ports and military deals. Russia and Iran back Burhan’s forces as well. Only the UAE seems to favor the RSF, reportedly fearing the radical Islamism of SAF-linked militias.