The Core Conflict

Beneath the surface politics lies a deeper struggle over identity:

The Arabization Project: Since al-Turabi and Bashir, there's been an attempt to define Sudan as Arab and Islamic, marginalizing African identities, traditional religions, and non-Arab Muslims.

Both Burhan and Hemeti, despite being rivals, are seen as pursuing this agenda. From some quarters "they are seen to be ideological twins" in their commitment to Arab supremacy.

African Resistance: The Fur, Masselit, Zagawa, Dinka, Nuer, and other groups resist being subordinated in their own land. They face:

1. Being called "abid" (slave)
2. Systematic discrimination in employment and education
3. Violence and ethnic cleansing
4. Denial of equal citizenship
5. Cultural erasure

The Historical Roots

The slave trade's legacy haunts Sudan:

1. "The association in the North, in our culture in the north, between Blackness and slavery" remains powerful
2. Northern culture privileged Arab identity over African
3. Economic exploitation of southern and western regions
4. Denial of racism while practicing it systematically

One analyst noted: "There is a sense of fascination [in France] about the royal family, remind Lady Diana was killed in a car crash in Paris. So there is this link but there were too many stories around [Sudan]."

The point: even in discussions of Sudan, the focus drifts to Western concerns (like Diana's death in Paris) rather than Sudanese realities—another form of erasure.

The Genocidal Logic

The RSF's targeting of specific ethnic groups follows clear pattern:

1. Systematic killing of Fur, Masselit, Zagawa men
2. Mass rape of women from these groups
3. Destruction of villages and cultural sites
4. Deliberate demographic change through ethnic cleansing
5. Creating "facts on the ground" for permanent Arab control

This isn't war, it's genocide—an attempt to eliminate certain peoples from their ancestral lands. The US genocide determination confirms what observers have known since the 2000s: the same forces committing genocide then are doing so now, with better weapons and UAE backing.

The Regional Implications

This Arab vs. African dimension has regional implications:

1. Other Sahelian countries facing similar tensions
2. Horn of Africa's ethnic complexity
3. North Africa's relationship with Sub-Saharan Africa
4. Pan-Arabism vs. Pan-Africanism ideological struggle
5. UAE's broader project of Arab nationalist expansion

Sudan is a test case: can Arab forces, backed by Gulf money and weapons, impose their vision on African populations? The answer will shape the region's future.