Russia’s Powerplay in Sudan Continues
Russia has long tried to make inroads into Africa. In Sudan, the Wagner-assisted rebellion has caused havoc. Even after the rebranding of Wagner, Russia is still undermining the government in Sudan as it tries to secure a naval base in the Red Sea.
Russia's growing influence in Sudan continues to be a matter of concern for global powers. The conflict between the Sudanese National Army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia, which erupted in April 2023, has become a battleground for international interests, with Russia adopting a strategy to protect its own interests in the region.
Two bills in Congress now include provisions addressing Russia's influence in Sudan, with one calling for an investigation into non-state actors like Wagner, and the other requesting an intelligence report on Russia's attempts to establish a naval base in the country.
Although these US interventions are significant, they overlook the root causes of Russia's increasing presence in Sudan. The reliance of both sides on Russian support during the conflict is the primary driver of this influence. Therefore, the US should work with Emirati partners, the main sponsor of the RSF militia, to cease funding the militia. Experts believe that cutting off this funding stream would be the most effective way to end the war.
Wagner, a Russian mercenary group, initially supplied the RSF with weapons from Libya. However, after their leader's death and subsequent rebranding into the Africa Corps (AC), Ukrainian special forces intervened, launching drone attacks on the AC in Sudan. The RSF-Wagner/AC relationship, however, has weakened over time, and monitoring should focus more on the AC, Putin's new mercenary arm. Reports suggest that the AC was involved in smuggling arms to the RSF militia through the border with the Central African Republic.
Russia's pursuit of a naval base in the Red Sea has been ongoing, but Sudan has not yet decided on the final deal. Initially, Sudan offered Russia a 25-year base in exchange for arms, but negotiations stalled as Sudan did not want to face confrontation with the West. Another issue that requires close examination is the smuggling of gold from RSF-controlled areas in Darfur to the UAE.
Local news outlets claim that Russian personnel are assisting the RSF with mining operations, a practice that echoes Putin's previous use of Sudanese gold to fund his invasion of Ukraine.
To effectively address Russia's expanding influence in Sudan, a systematic analysis of the situation is needed. The war's continuation and the UAE's support for the RSF militia to take over Sudan, a political project that has failed after more than three years of fighting, will only exacerbate Russia's influence in the country. It is crucial to consider these factors as the conflict evolves. The views expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Kyiv Post.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
