Saudi Arabia and UAE Linked to Sudan Conflict, Tied to Mecca and Medina

The Role of Saudi Arabia and UAE in Sudan’s Civil War: Geopolitical Dynamics and Regional Influence

The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have been battling in a bloody conflict with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a powerful paramilitary group, for more than two years. Although the conflict mainly affects Sudanese civilians, several foreign countries have contributed significantly to its intensity by supporting one of the opposing factions. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia are two of the main foreign participants; both have denied direct involvement but have provided military and financial support.

According to geopolitical analysts, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are actively involved in the conflict and are not only spectators, as both nations use Sudan as a battlefield to gain power in the Horn of Africa. Many commentators consider the conflict to be a proxy war because it stems from a power struggle between these two Gulf kingdoms.

The Saudi-UAE Rivalry and Sudan’s Strategic Importance

The larger geopolitical competition between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates is the root cause of the civil war in Sudan. Sudan has emerged as a key focal point in the contest between the two nations for regional domination. The war has gotten more intense as both Gulf countries have supported various groups within Sudan’s military and paramilitary formations in an effort to increase their influence there.

Historically, Sudan has had strong political, economic, and cultural ties with Saudi Arabia, dating back to the mid-20th century. The two holy cities of Mecca and Medina are of Islamic significance, and Sudan’s proximity to Saudi Arabia has fostered strong people-to-people contacts. Over time, these contacts have developed into strategic alliances as Sudan’s geopolitical position has become increasingly important in the larger regional balance of power.

In contrast, the UAE has been gradually expanding its financial and commercial influence in Africa. Recently, the country has made major investments in key areas, particularly in port infrastructure and logistics. In the late 2010s, especially as the political climate changed following the Arab revolutions, the UAE began to prioritize Sudan.

Both Saudi Arabia and the UAE saw an opportunity to extend their influence in Sudan after the 2014-2015 period, when Sudan distanced itself from Iran and aligned more closely with the Gulf monarchies.

The Post-Bashir Era and the Rise of Proxy Conflicts

After the 2019 coup that ousted Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, the political vacuum created an environment ripe for foreign influence. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, keen to exert control over the nation’s future course, persisted in backing various groups inside Sudan’s military and paramilitary ranks. The civil war in Sudan was the result of internal strife and escalation caused by the struggle for control within the country’s security system.

The two Gulf nations’ support for competing factions – Saudi Arabia aligning with Sudan’s military leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the UAE backing Mohamed Hamdan ‘Hemedti’ Dagalo, the leader of the RSF – has transformed what could have been a political rivalry into a full-scale war. Experts point out that although Saudi Arabia and the UAE did not directly instigate the conflict, their support for opposing factions turned the situation from a political struggle into a violent conflict.

Strategic Interests and the Mecca and Medina Connection

The involvement of Saudi Arabia and the UAE in Sudan also has religious and cultural implications. Because Sudan is adjacent to the holy towns of Mecca and Medina, which are important to Muslims all over the world, both countries—especially Saudi Arabia—maintain close ties with it. Although it is not the only explanation for their participation, this relationship highlights Sudan’s strategic and historical significance to these Gulf countries. Sudan is a vital ally in the region due to its geographic and cultural location, which makes it a major actor in the larger geopolitical power struggle between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The rivalry between the two nations has also extended to their approaches to political Islam. While Saudi Arabia has adopted a more pragmatic, secular foreign policy, particularly with regard to political Islam, their role in Sudan has been complicated by their differing views on political Islam and governance, with both countries exploiting the turmoil to advance their own agendas.

Substitute War and Regional Balance of Power

As the violence continues, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have become firmly involved in the Sudanese conflict. Both countries are reluctant to stop supporting their friends, fearing that doing so would undermine their reputation and influence in the region. The already volatile situation within Sudan has worsened, resulting in a full-blown substitute war that has affected regional politics.

Although Saudi Arabia and the UAE were not directly responsible for the conflict, experts insist that their involvement has significantly shaped the course of the war. In addition to fueling the conflict, their support has hindered efforts to find a peaceful solution, making it more challenging to achieve stability in Sudan.

In short, the Sudanese civil war is not simply a domestic issue, but a reflection of a broader geopolitical battle between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Sudan continues to be a major battleground for the two countries’ conflicting interests as they vie for control of the Horn of Africa, with devastating consequences for the Sudanese people.