Sudan's Defence Minister Hassan Daoud Kabroun has accused more than 20 countries of supporting the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the ongoing war in Sudan. In an interview with the state-run Sudan News Agency (SUNA), Kabroun alleged that these countries have been providing the RSF with funding, drones, logistical assistance, and foreign fighters. However, he did not identify the countries apart from the United Arab Emirates and Ethiopia, which have previously been accused by the army-aligned government.
The Sudanese army and the RSF have been fighting since April 2023, when tensions over plans to integrate the paramilitary force into the regular military escalated into war. Kabroun stated that the conflict has become an international conflict rather than an internal struggle, with the aim of destroying Sudan, plundering its resources, and changing its demographic composition. He also alleged that the conflict is not a civil war or a struggle for power between two forces, but a comprehensive war against the Sudanese people.
Kabroun accused political and military groups opposed to the government of working together to undermine Sudan, referring to the RSF and the political groupings Somoud and Tasis. He also stated that one of the government's main challenges is persuading neighbouring countries that foreign actors are involved in the conflict, including through logistical support and the movement of fighters and weapons across borders. The government is seeking to address these challenges and restore security in the country.
Sudan is seeking to join a regional arrangement for the collective protection of the Red Sea, which is strategically important to the country due to its coastline of more than 800 km. Kabroun stated that the government wants support from friendly countries to establish a specialised coastguard force responsible for maritime security, surveillance, and coordination among the police, security services, and customs authorities. This force would help combat piracy, arms smuggling, human trafficking, and other cross-border crimes.
Kabroun called for renewed defence cooperation with neighbouring countries, stating that the war has disrupted joint security arrangements involving Sudan and Libya, Chad, the Central African Republic, and Ethiopia. He said Sudan wants to revive existing agreements, establish joint forces to protect borders and natural resources, and strengthen regional cooperation to prevent illegal trafficking. The government is also seeking to expand domestic defence production and reduce dependence on foreign supplies.
The government has introduced a new law on national industries to expand domestic production and support the armed forces, including through military equipment manufacturing and the construction of military facilities and roads. Kabroun outlined plans to distribute industrial investment more evenly across Sudan's states, citing gum Arabic production in Darfur and Kordofan as an example. He also suggested that similar investment should be directed towards gold and sesame processing near the areas where the commodities are produced.
On domestic politics, Kabroun stated that Sudan has more than 100 political parties and called for them to consolidate into three or four larger parties. He said the government seeks to build a modern democratic state based on transparency and accountability, adding that no one should govern Sudan without elections and a constitutional mandate. The government also intends to bring all armed formations under the regular army and official security institutions, ruling out a continued role for unauthorised armed groups and militias.
Key points
- Sudan's Defence Minister accuses over 20 countries of supporting the RSF.
- The conflict has become an international conflict rather than an internal struggle.
- The government seeks to join a regional arrangement for the collective protection of the Red Sea.
