The Real Geopolitics of Sudan’s Civil War
Summary
Hosts Thomas Small and Eamon Dean analyze the Sudanese civil war as a complex geopolitical conflict with no clear moral victors. They detail how the SAF and RSF are backed by opposing networks of regional and global powers, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and the UAE. The episode explores the strategic interests of these external actors, such as Red Sea security and anti-Islamist policies, while highlighting the severe humanitarian crisis and chemical weapons use by the SAF.
Topics discussed
Sponsor: Carvana
Introduction and episode overview
The nature of the Sudan conflict: no good guys
Geostrategic zones: Red Sea and the Sahel
Historical context: Clans, Islamists, and the 2019 coup
The breakdown of the technocratic transition
External backers of the RSF: UAE, Chad, Ethiopia, Kenya
External backers of the SAF: Egypt and Saudi Arabia
Unlikely allies: Iran, Turkey, and Qatar
Pakistan's role and the US pressure
Internal SAF networks: NCP and jihadist brigades
Chemical weapons and Al-Qaeda links
UAE motivations and the 'swamp' of extremism
Proposed solutions: Draining external support
Conclusion: Sudan as a colonial zone
Outro and sponsors
Listen ad-free on Castria