Sudan is currently dealing with the terrible fallout from a protracted civil war that was characterized by bloodshed, mass migration, and a dire humanitarian situation. Sudan is also dealing with issues like starvation and flooding. In this context, other powers—including Iran—are becoming more apparent as possible dangers to the stability of the area.
The internal civil war in Sudan is not a recent development; rather, it has been raging for decades in the region as a result of a number of factors including resource disputes, power battles, ethnic tensions, and religion. Hopes for democracy were sparked after the military regime of General Omar Bashir was overthrown in the 2018 election. But in 2023, Sudan tragically sank back into conflict, crushing any hope of recovery and ushering in a fresh wave of bloodshed and unrest.Sudan has become a target for foreign countries, notably Iran, looking to exercise influence in the area during this precarious time of domestic war. Iran is allegedly supporting the Bashir administration and has used Sudan as a route to smuggle weapons to terrorist organizations like Islamic Jihad in Gaza, according to a number of outlets, including Bloomberg.
Additionally, there have been rumors circulating that Iran promised the Sudanese Armed Forces military assistance in return for the establishment of a naval facility near the country's Red Sea coast. The leader of Sudan, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, meanwhile, wants to keep Sudan independent of outside forces and avoid having them meddle in internal affairs. Still, as a result of internal power conflicts in Sudan, Iran's influence is progressively expanding.Concerns about the stability of the world are raised by Iran's involvement in Sudan, which may exacerbate humanitarian issues and pose a threat to stability. The United States has conveyed its concerns about this issue on multiple occasions.