Iranians and UAE-supplied drones have intensified the Sudan conflict, allowing the SAF to regain ground against the RSF while targeting civilian areas. The influx of such military supplies, contravening a UN arms embargo, challenges peace efforts. Experts suggest that the foreign backing is crucial to prolonging the conflict, with the death toll exceeding 15,000 since fighting erupted in April 2023.
Since January, there has been an increase in the presence of Iranian cargo aircraft at Port Sudan Airport, which serves as the operational base for the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) under the leadership of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. Following the arrival of these aircraft, the SAF escalated its military actions against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) utilizing Iranian-made Mohajer-6 drones. Additionally, the RSF has received substantial support from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Russia, through the mercenary group Africa Corps, which has facilitated the delivery of weaponry, including drones capable of deploying 120 mm mortar shells.
Drones have become instrumental in the protracted conflict between the SAF and RSF, primarily driven by two generals vying for control over Sudan’s resources. The influx of drones, predominantly sourced from Iran, Russia, and the UAE, underscores the foreign involvement in this inner turmoil, contradicting the United Nations’ arms embargo on the nation. Assistance from these external powers is reportedly being routed through Chad and Libya, with the UAE utilizing humanitarian aid as a subterfuge for military support.
The Africa Corps has established supply lines for surface-to-air missiles and other armaments to aid the RSF, while Russia publicly backs the SAF to strengthen its presence along Sudan’s Red Sea. The UAE is similarly focused on expanding its influence in Sudan and has previously supplied quadcopter drones to allied forces in conflict zones. The RSF has effectively utilized these drones to target both military assets and civilian infrastructures, resulting in significant casualties, including attacks on hospitals that compromised medical care for vulnerable populations in North Darfur.
The addition of Iranian drones has allowed the SAF to reclaim control of significant areas, including the state broadcaster in Omdurman, the largest city in Sudan. The ongoing conflict, which erupted in April 2023, has claimed over 15,000 lives, with millions displaced, and many believe actual figures are underreported due to restricted access to afflicted areas. Medical professionals report alarming rates of mortality among children and pregnant women, linked to the collapse of healthcare systems caused by the violence.
Experts caution that the escalation in drone warfare indicates that the conflict is poised to persist despite international pressure for peace talks, a sentiment reflected by the SAF’s recent refusal to engage in negotiations in Jeddah. According to Hamid Khalafallah, a notable Sudan expert, “If the UAE withdraws its support and cuts ties with the RSF today, there’s an 80 percent chance the war might end tomorrow,” highlighting the significant role foreign involvement plays in the ongoing strife.
The ongoing conflict in Sudan has intensified due to the involvement of external powers supplying advanced weaponry, particularly unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). This situation is indicative of the broader geopolitical contest for influence in the region, as various nations take sides in the internal power struggle between the SAF and RSF. Operating under the auspices of sustaining stability, foreign influence has exacerbated internal divisions, violating existing arms embargoes. Furthermore, humanitarian crises have emerged due to the conflict, affecting the civilian population gravely.
In conclusion, the supply of Iranian and UAE drones to the conflicting forces in Sudan is prolonging the violence and complicating peace efforts amidst a humanitarian crisis. The involvement of external players has escalated a civil conflict that has already resulted in significant loss of life and widespread displacement. With both the SAF and RSF employing drones for military purposes and targeting civilians, the prospects for a negotiated resolution remain bleak unless foreign support diminishes significantly.
Original Source: www.defenceweb.co.za
