Sudan's conflict will have a ripple effect in an unstable region - and across the world
Retrieved on:
Friday, May 5, 2023
It could destabilise the Sahel region and the Horn of Africa and jeopardise US interests in these regions.
Key Points:
- It could destabilise the Sahel region and the Horn of Africa and jeopardise US interests in these regions.
- It could also delay the ratification, by the yet-to-be-formed legislative assembly, of the agreement for Russia to build a naval base at Port Sudan.
- Finally, the conflict could interfere with trade between Sudan and the Gulf states – the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
- First, the conflict could destabilise the region and negatively affect the efforts of these countries to expand their export trade.
- Port Sudan also has a container port that handles trade to and from various parts of the world.
Ripple effect
- Two countries stand to suffer the most if the conflict escalates: Egypt and South Sudan.
- Instability in Khartoum could also derail efforts to reach agreement on the filling and management of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
- Ninety percent of South Sudan’s economy is based on oil, which is exported through Sudan to Port Sudan.
- Read more:
South Sudan's oil and water give it bargaining power – but will it benefit the people?
External ties
- The Russian Federation: Russia is interested primarily in gaining access to the country’s enormous resources, which include gold, uranium, oil and its port facilities.
- Russia’s hope is that its foothold in Sudan will give it better access to other countries in North Africa and the Horn of Africa.
- Others may want to place themselves in a position to exploit the country and its resources.
- The United Arab Emirates (UAE): The UAE has military and commercial assets in Eritrea, Somaliland, Somalia and the southern coast of Yemen.