A United Nations probe has documented extensive foreign military support fueling Sudan's conflict, with credible evidence that both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces have received advanced weaponry and drone technology from external actors.
The UN panel of experts detailed specific transfers: General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan's SAF obtained drone shipments and logistical support from unnamed regional powers, while General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo's RSF acquired anti-aircraft systems and armored vehicles from external sources. The report did not name the countries providing the aid.
These interventions have transformed the war, which began in April 2023, into a proxy conflict that has displaced over 10 million people within Sudan or to neighboring countries. The panel documented civilian casualties from drone strikes in Khartoum and Darfur, including allegations of indiscriminate bombing by the SAF against residential areas and targeted killings by the RSF. Such actions could constitute war crimes under international law, the report stated.
Foreign military aid reduces both sides' incentive to negotiate. Each faction believes it can achieve military victory, prolonging the suffering of Sudan's population. Food insecurity has reached emergency levels across several regions.
The UN Human Rights Council will review the panel's findings at its session in late September, with member states expected to consider sanctions or referrals to the International Criminal Court.
