Regional Tensions surge: Sudan's conflict fuels drone attacks on Port Sudan, spotlighting the flourishing gold sector and threats to stability
Revised Article:
Sudan's port city of Port Sudan was under attack on May 4, as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) unleashed a barrage of suicide drones, thanks to alleged foreign support.
The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) was quick to blame external actors for backing the RSF's onslaught, even going so far as to threaten to cut ties with one of its major trading partners.
Strikes and Displacement
The drone attacks on Port Sudan were a surprise, given the RSF's previous drone use was limited. However, these assaults marked the furthest range the RSF had reached, targeting Port Sudan which had been a safe haven until recently.
"The strikes ... caused a massive displacement of residents," Aza Aera, a local relief worker, commented to Al Jazeera. "If the hostilities continue ... I think I'll join the exodus like everyone else."
A War of Drones
When the conflict between the SAF and RSF erupted in April 2023, the army had aerial superiority due to its fleet of warplanes and drones. Yet, the RSF is narrowing the gap with an arsenal of suicide drones, which it used on Port Sudan consistently for six days, hitting a military base, a civilian airport, several hotels, and a fuel depot, causing a large explosion.
"Sudan has already entered the phase of drone warfare over the last few months," said Suliman Baldo, founder of the Sudan Transparency and Policy Tracker think tank.
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The army primarily relies on the Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 drones, having received approximately $120m worth since late 2023. These drones can travel considerable distances with a substantial payload and allegedly helped the army reclaim vast territories from the RSF in eastern and central Sudan between September 2024 and March 2025, including the capital Khartoum.
Despite losing significant ground, the RSF escalated its aggression against the SAF using Chinese-made drones, according to a recent report by Amnesty International.
The human rights group and other monitors accuse the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of purchasing these drones, as well as other weapons, and supplying them to the RSF. However, the UAE denies these allegations, stating they are "baseless."
Escalating Conflict
The increasing use of drones by both sides risks escalating an already catastrophic situation for civilians, according to experts and human rights monitors. Moreover, the intensifying war could lead to further involvement from regional powers.
Sudden Decision
On May 6, the army-backed authorities in Port Sudan announced the severing of all ties with the UAE after accusing it of involvement in the attacks. Baldo considers this decision hasty, believing it may result in severe consequences, such as the loss of tens of millions of dollars in gold revenue and access to vital banking operations for Sudan.
Kush, Sudan's largest gold mine, is owned by a UAE-backed company, Emiral Resources, and likely sells tens of millions of dollars worth of gold to the UAE. Furthermore, UAE banks have a majority stake in the Bank of Khartoum, whose digital platform, Bankak, facilitates money transfers for millions of displaced Sudanese and public institutions.
"This quick decision will have dire consequences ... due to the UAE's control over Sudan's national economy," Baldo said.
Rising Tensions
It remains unclear how and when Sudan's army will sever ties with the UAE. For its part, the UAE's Foreign Ministry stated that it will not retaliate against Port Sudan, considering the deep-rooted and long-lasting ties between the UAE and Sudan.
However, experts and observers fear that the war in Sudan might spiral into a major escalation, with regional powers becoming more deeply involved on the side of the army, increasing the likelihood of a devastating conflict with immense firepower.
- The strikes in Port Sudan, caused by the use of suicide drones, have led to a mass displacement of residents, as mentioned by Aza Aera, a local relief worker.
- The conflict between Sudan's Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has escalated into a war of drones, with the RSF using Chinese-made drones against the SAF, according to a report by Amnesty International.
- The escalating conflict and increasing use of drones by both sides has raised concerns among experts and human rights monitors about the potential for further involvement of regional powers and the devastating impact on civilians.
- The sudden decision by the army-backed authorities in Port Sudan to sever ties with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) due to allegations of UAE involvement in the attacks may have severe consequences, including the potential loss of tens of millions of dollars in gold revenue and access to vital banking operations for Sudan, as experts have warned.
