The Geopolitics of Atrocity: How External Support Ignites Internal Conflicts
THE ACTORS: Who PROFITS FROM CHAOS? The Rapid Support Forces (RSF): A paramilitary group led by Mohamed Hamdan 'Hemedti' Dagalo, evolved from the Janjaweed militias responsible for atrocities in Darfur (2003). The RSF isn't just a domestic player; it's a force with significant external backing and a history of foreign deployments. The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF): Led by General Abdel Fattah
al-Burhan, also has its own web of international supporters. Historically, while Sudan's military received varied support, the current conflict is framed as a power struggle between these two factions. External States & Entities: This is where the narrative shifts. Reports indicate that the RSF has received significant air defense systems and other weaponry from states like the UAE. Russia's
Wagner Group has also been documented operating in Sudan, extracting gold and providing military training to the RSF and others. The timing of this recent drone attack in Er Rahad, coupled with increasing sophistication of RSF's weaponry, raises questions about the origin and continuous supply chain for their drone capabilities. THE FUNDING: AFRICAN GOLD FOR INTERNATIONAL ARMS Gold Smuggling: A
primary revenue stream for the RSF, illicit gold mining and smuggling operations, largely facilitated by entities linked to Wagner, reportedly generate billions. Estimates suggest Russia exported $2.3 billion worth of gold from Sudan between February 2022 and February 2023 alone, bypassing official channels. This trade provides vital hard currency for weapons acquisition (CNN, 2022; OCCRP, 2023).