Khartoum, May 11—Sudan's civil war, raging since April 2023, has morphed into a Red Sea flashpoint, with external powers like Russia and Iran exploiting the chaos to embed in the Horn of Africa. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) clash unabated, displacing 10 million and triggering famine warnings from the UN, as peace talks in Jeddah collapse yet again.
Moscow and Tehran back rival factions: Russia arms RSF via Wagner remnants for gold smuggling access, while Iran supplies SAF drones, eyeing Sudanese ports for Houthi logistics. Somalia's government, now cozying with Egypt's military, battles al-Shabaab resurgence fueled by spillover arms. Piracy off Somalia has quadrupled, with 45 attacks this year alone, per Rep. Claudia Tenney's recent push for the Sanction Sea Pirates Act.
U.S. interests suffer as Beijing secures Belt and Road footholds, sidelining American counterterrorism. Economic pressures—skyrocketing food prices from Red Sea disruptions—hammer East Africa, with 20 million at hunger's edge per IMF alerts. Local voices decry 'neo-colonial carve-up.'
Next steps? AU mediation falters without U.S. muscle. Escalation could see full Iranian basing in Mogadishu, choking 12% of global trade. Washington must rally allies or cede the waterway.
