The Silent Scorched Earth: Perpetual Displacement in Darfur
Let's follow the trail: THE ACTORS: Who benefits from protracted conflict? The primary factions in Sudan, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), are portrayed as internal warring parties. However, their arsenals and sustained capacity for conflict are not self-generated. Both leaders have
historically cultivated external support. Burhan's SAF, for instance, has received backing from Egypt and Saudi Arabia, wary of instability on their borders and preserving traditional military power structures. Hemedti's RSF, originating from the Janjaweed militias implicated in the Darfur genocide, has long-standing ties to Gulf states, notably the UAE, which has invested heavily in Sudan's gold
mining sector (Human Rights Watch, 2023). THE FUNDING: Tracking the capital of chaos The funding for this brutal internal conflict is not limited to state budgets. Gold, a primary natural resource in Darfur, is a key driver. Reports suggest that the UAE facilitated the purchase of billions of dollars worth of Sudanese gold, much of it trafficked, thereby indirectly financing the RSF's operations
(UN Panel of Experts, 2023). This trade, estimated to exceed $4 billion annually, provides a continuous lifeline for the RSF, enabling them to procure weapons and maintain their fighting capacity despite international sanctions. On the other side, the SAF's long-standing military-industrial complex has benefited from various regional arms deals and, historically, international aid that often