Blog
Jul 12

How Sudan Became a Saudi-UAE Proxy War

Analysis How Sudan Became a Saudi-UAE Proxy War

Gulf heavyweights view the conflict as an opportunity to cement their hegemonic status in the Middle East.

By Talal Mohammad, a scholar of Middle Eastern studies and an independent consultant in government affairs, geopolitics, and strategic intelligence.

Smoke plumes billow from a fire at a lumber warehouse in Khartoum.
Smoke plumes billow from a fire at a lumber warehouse in Khartoum.
Smoke plumes billow from a fire at a lumber warehouse in Khartoum amid ongoing fighting between Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, commonly known as Hemeti, on June 7. AFP via Getty Images

Talal Mohammad is a scholar of Middle Eastern studies and an independent consultant in government affairs, geopolitics, and strategic intelligence. From 2019 to 2022, he was an academic visitor at St. Antony’s College at the University of Oxford, where he also earned his doctorate. He is the author of the 2022 book Iranian-Saudi Rivalry Since 1979: In the Words of Kings and Clerics. Twitter: @DrOxbridge

Read More

A man walks down a dirt road as smoke billows in southern Khartoum.
A man walks down a dirt road as smoke billows in southern Khartoum.

Support Sudan’s Revolution, Not an Elite Peace Deal

Foreign powers’ obsessive focus on a transition process empowered generals and weakened democracy activists, paving the way to war.

Argument

|

Sharath Srinivasan

An armed Sudanese rebel is silhouetted against a blazing fire as he arrives at the abandoned village of Chero Kasi after Janjaweed militiamen set it ablaze.
An armed Sudanese rebel is silhouetted against a blazing fire as he arrives at the abandoned village of Chero Kasi after Janjaweed militiamen set it ablaze.

Sudan’s Ghosts of Darfur Come Back to Haunt It

The civil war between two rival generals has rekindled bloodshed, bad blood, and ethnic tensions in the tinderbox of Darfur.

Analysis

|

Justin Lynch

A photo collage illustration shows the two warring generals at the center of Sudan's unrest alongside images of U.S. President Joe Biden and the seal of the state department for a story about U.S. diplomacy in Sudan.
A photo collage illustration shows the two warring generals at the center of Sudan's unrest alongside images of U.S. President Joe Biden and the seal of the state department for a story about U.S. diplomacy in Sudan.

How the U.S. Fumbled Sudan’s Hopes for Democracy

The East African country, once a beacon for change, now faces civil war.

Feature

|

Robbie Gramer Newsletters

Sign up for Editors' Picks

A curated selection of FP’s must-read stories.

Enter your email Sign Up ✓ Signed Up Unsubscribe

You’re on the list! More ways to stay updated on global news:

FP Live

Enter your email Sign Up ✓ Signed Up Unsubscribe

World Brief

Enter your email Sign Up ✓ Signed Up Unsubscribe

China Brief

Enter your email Sign Up ✓ Signed Up Unsubscribe

South Asia Brief

Enter your email Sign Up ✓ Signed Up Unsubscribe

Situation Report

Enter your email Sign Up ✓ Signed Up Unsubscribe View All Newsletters By submitting your email, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and to receive email correspondence from us. You may opt out at any time.

By submitting your email, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and to receive email correspondence from us. You may opt out at any time.

latest

Beijing’s Latest U.S. Intelligence Breach

Chinese Scientists Are Leaving the United States

Europe’s Islamophobia Could Be Dodik’s Undoing

A (Mostly Secret) Revolution Is Afoot in NATO’s Military

Cluster Bombs Are Terrible. Ukraine Still Needs Them.

See All Stories

Editors’ Picks

  1. 1 The Long, Destructive Shadow of Obama’s Russia Doctrine
  2. 2 The First Job for NATO’s New Baltic Bloc
  3. 3 A (Mostly Secret) Revolution Is Afoot in NATO’s Military
  4. 4 The Perils of Hosting Prigozhin in Belarus
  5. 5 A BRICS Currency Could Shake the Dollar’s Dominance
  6. 6 Will India Surpass China to Become the Next Superpower?

Latest

Microsoft China Hack: U.S. Commerce Secretary Raimondo’s Emails Breached

Chinese Scientists Are Leaving the United States Amid Geopolitical Tensions

Could EU Islamophobia Halt Bosnian Serb Leader Dodik's Secession Push?

NATO Summit: Alliance Rolls Out Bold New Defense Plans To Deter Russian Invasion

Biden's Ukraine Cluster Bomb Decision Was Right

See All Stories

More from Foreign Policy

An collage illustration shows map segments with member countries — and possible future members — of NATO. Russian President Vladamir Putin is seen in profile with a tear of Ukraine map to signify the effect of the Russian war on the alliance.
An collage illustration shows map segments with member countries — and possible future members — of NATO. Russian President Vladamir Putin is seen in profile with a tear of Ukraine map to signify the effect of the Russian war on the alliance.

NATO’s Next Decade

Nine thinkers assess the alliance’s future ahead of a historic summit.

A DJI Mavic Air drone hovers in front of the sun.
A DJI Mavic Air drone hovers in front of the sun.

There’s No Substitute for Chinese Drones (and That’s a Problem)

Grounding DJI products is already causing severe issues.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen delivers remarks at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, D.C.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen delivers remarks at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, D.C.

China Fires a Fresh Salvo in the Chip War

Beijing’s export restrictions on two metals may not be a death blow, but they are likely to serve as a warning shot.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Barack Obama chat after a bilateral meeting at the G-20 summit in Los Cabos, Mexico.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Barack Obama chat after a bilateral meeting at the G-20 summit in Los Cabos, Mexico.

The Long, Destructive Shadow of Obama’s Russia Doctrine

A series of bad decisions during the Obama years prepared the ground for Vladimir Putin’s war.

Trending


  1. Chinese Scientists Are Leaving the United States

    Report

    |

    Christina Lu, Anusha Rathi


  2. A (Mostly Secret) Revolution Is Afoot in NATO’s Military

    Situation Report

    |

    Robbie Gramer, Jack Detsch


  3. How Sudan Became a Saudi-UAE Proxy War

    Analysis

    |

    Talal Mohammad


  4. A BRICS Currency Could Shake the Dollar’s Dominance

    Argument

    |

    Joseph W. Sullivan


  5. What Did the NATO Summit Change for Ukraine?

    Report

    |

    Jack Detsch, Robbie Gramer

Latest

Beijing’s Latest U.S. Intelligence Breach

Chinese Scientists Are Leaving the United States

Europe’s Islamophobia Could Be Dodik’s Undoing

A (Mostly Secret) Revolution Is Afoot in NATO’s Military

Cluster Bombs Are Terrible. Ukraine Still Needs Them.

See All Stories Newsletters

Sign up for World Brief

FP’s flagship evening newsletter guiding you through the most important world stories of the day. Delivered weekdays.

Enter your email Sign Up ✓ Signed Up Unsubscribe By submitting your email, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and to receive email correspondence from us. You may opt out at any time.

By submitting your email, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and to receive email correspondence from us. You may opt out at any time.

About The Author

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.