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New Alliances in Sudan Civil War Threaten Regional Stability
New alliances in Sudan’s civil war could drag South Sudan into the conflict, risking a regional war. The RSF-SPLM-N pact expands the battlefield, while Sudan’s army is accused of backing militias across the border.
ND
by News Desk
2025-03-29
New Alliances in Sudan Civil War Threaten Regional Stability

The civil war in Sudan is taking a dangerous turn as new alliances form, threatening to draw South Sudan into the conflict and escalate tensions across the region.

In February 2024, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) joined forces with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to create a rival government challenging Sudan’s ruling army. This has widened the battlefield and complicated Sudan’s ongoing war, which began in April 2023 between the RSF and Sudan’s military.

Why This Alliance Matters

🔹 SPLM-N, led by Abdel Aziz al-Hilu, has long fought Sudan’s army in South Kordofan and Blue Nile, regions bordering South Sudan.
🔹 RSF, previously used by the army to suppress rebellions, is now working with SPLM-N to expand its influence.
🔹 The partnership allows RSF to smuggle supplies from South Sudan and Ethiopia, strengthening its military reach.

Rising Tensions with South Sudan

Analysts believe Sudan’s army is supporting South Sudanese militias to counter SPLM-N and RSF movements along the 2,000km shared border. This could further destabilize South Sudan, which is already facing internal political struggles.

Sudan’s army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan reportedly suspects South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir of quietly backing the RSF-SPLM-N alliance due to historical ties. However, Kiir is struggling to maintain order at home, placing rival Vice President Riek Machar under house arrest.

The Risk of a Wider War

🔹 South Sudan’s political crisis is deepening, with fears of a new civil war breaking out.
🔹 If South Sudan collapses into war, Sudanese militias could exploit the chaos to expand their influence.
🔹 Analysts warn that the conflict could create a breeding ground for mercenaries, with South Sudanese fighters being recruited into Sudan’s war.

A Historical Cycle of Violence

The current crisis mirrors Sudan’s past conflicts:
✅ 1983-2005: Sudan’s north-south civil war saw the government use proxy militias.
✅ 2011: South Sudan gained independence, but fighting continued in border regions.
✅ 2013-2018: South Sudan itself plunged into a civil war between Kiir and Machar.
✅ 2023-Present: The RSF-Sudan army war threatens to reignite old divisions and draw in new fighters.

What’s Next?

As Sudan’s war intensifies and South Sudan teeters on the brink of collapse, the risk of a fully integrated regional conflict is growing. International observers warn that without urgent diplomacy, Sudan’s civil war could spiral into a multi-front battle dragging in its neighbors.
Tagged:

RSF

SudanCrisis

SouthSudan

AfricaConflict

RegionalWar
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