One year into the Sudanese civil war with the fighting showing no signs of abating, Iran appears to be attempting to exert its influence in the conflict.
The fighting erupted on April 15, 2023, pitting the Sudanese armed forces, led by Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, commanded by Gen Mohamed Dagalo.
A recent report from Reuters suggested the Sudanese military may be using Iranian-made drones to gain ground around the capital Khartoum, where much of the conflict over the past year has been focused.
The report cites sources in Khartoum who say Sudanese military drones have been tracking RSF movements and hitting them with precision strikes in Omdurman, across the Nile from Khartoum.
Omdurman is home to several major military bases, including the headquarters of the army's engineering corps.
In the early months of the conflict, the RSF managed to capture large parts of the city. While the conflict there eventually ground into a stalemate, fighting has intensified in the past month.
"The SAF have started to regain some territory: they breached the siege around the centre of Omburdman in mid-February and won a significant battle in early March by reclaiming the headquarters of the national radio and television in Omburdman, historically a focal point for Sudanese coups," Pierre Pahlavi, a professor at the Canadian Forces College who focuses on Iran, told The National.
Mr Pahlavi said that despite recent gains, it was unlikely that Iran's support would "tip the balance" of the conflict.
A Dutch peace organisation which has been monitoring the use of drones in the conflict believes there is evidence that Iran has supplied the Sudanese military with new drones.
War in Sudan one year on – in pictures
“They have a long-standing relation with Sudan and have provided drones in the past starting off in 2008, 2009,” Wim Zwijnenburg, project leader at Pax, told The National.
“But we had indications after a couple of Iranian drones were shot down early January, that they were provided new drones, which indicates that Iran has restarted their export to Sudan.”
Mr Zwijnenburg said that there is evidence that the Sudanese military is using a relatively new Iranian drone called the Zargil-3, an updated version of a previous drone, which can drop heavy mortar rounds and could potentially be armed with guided missiles.
He added that, with the help of online sleuths, his organisation had tracked an Iranian flight believed to be carrying weapons to Sudan – though without the plane’s manifest, there is no way to say exactly what was on the flight.
“We found the presence of the Boeing 747 at Port Sudan Airport, so these are known Iranian airlines being involved in arms because they are owned by the Iranian government, known to be transporting arms, including also to Syria, which was an indication that Iran has been shipping weapons to Port Sudan,” he said.
That Iran is wading into the conflict in Sudan is not surprising.
“Iran's involvement in Sudan is part of its broader strategy for expanding its presence in the Red Sea, building off of its success in supporting and building up the Houthis,” said Gregory Brew, an Iran analyst at the Eurasia Group.
Sudan's army chief says war crimes are being committed in country – video
“Iran also sees Sudan's embattled government as a potential ally, one that it can cultivate through arms deals and drone sales.”
Tehran has also been accused of providing military equipment including drones to Russia for its war in Ukraine. It also supplies drones to Yemen's Houthis, who have carried out a series of attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
"Iran also seeks to gain a significant avenue of influence, particularly in eastern Sudan and Port Sudan, which it has informally designated as its capital," Mr Pahlavi said.
"This strategic position, with around 700 kilometres of maritime shorelines, provides Iran with a substantial asset to disrupt maritime passage in the Red Sea region."
The US has spoken with allies in the region and asked them to urge Iran not to become further involved in the conflict.
"We've encouraged them to encourage other countries, like Iran, not to engage," said Linda Thomas-Greenfield, US ambassador to the UN.
Both the Sudanese military and the RSF have been accused of committing atrocities in the year-long war.
A February UN report, based on interviews with 303 victims and witnesses, said the army and the RSF had “used explosive weapons with wide-area effects, such as missiles fired from fighter jets, unmanned aerial vehicles, anti-aircraft weapons and artillery shells in densely populated areas”.
The UN estimates that between 10,000 and 15,000 people have been killed in the war, which has pitted the
About eight million people have been displaced since fighting began.
Early attempts to broker peace, led by the US and Saudi Arabia, fell through.
Last month, Washington's special envoy for Sudan Tom Perriello said the US hoped to resume talks in April.
America has said that peace talks with the warring parties in Saudi Arabia would need to be inclusive, including the UAE, Egypt, regional East African bloc IGAD and the African Union.
Pox that threatens the Middle East's native species
Camelpox
Caused by a virus related to the one that causes human smallpox, camelpox typically causes fever, swelling of lymph nodes and skin lesions in camels aged over three, but the animal usually recovers after a month or so. Younger animals may develop a more acute form that causes internal lesions and diarrhoea, and is often fatal, especially when secondary infections result. It is found across the Middle East as well as in parts of Asia, Africa, Russia and India.
Falconpox
Falconpox can cause a variety of types of lesions, which can affect, for example, the eyelids, feet and the areas above and below the beak. It is a problem among captive falcons and is one of many types of avian pox or avipox diseases that together affect dozens of bird species across the world. Among the other forms are pigeonpox, turkeypox, starlingpox and canarypox. Avipox viruses are spread by mosquitoes and direct bird-to-bird contact.
Houbarapox
Houbarapox is, like falconpox, one of the many forms of avipox diseases. It exists in various forms, with a type that causes skin lesions being least likely to result in death. Other forms cause more severe lesions, including internal lesions, and are more likely to kill the bird, often because secondary infections develop. This summer the CVRL reported an outbreak of pox in houbaras after rains in spring led to an increase in mosquito numbers.
Sanju
Produced: Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Rajkumar Hirani
Director: Rajkumar Hirani
Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal, Paresh Rawal, Anushka Sharma, Manish’s Koirala, Dia Mirza, Sonam Kapoor, Jim Sarbh, Boman Irani
Rating: 3.5 stars
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Racecard
6.30pm: The Madjani Stakes (PA) Group 3 Dh175,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
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8.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh190,000 (D) 1,200m
8.50pm: Dubai Creek Mile (TB) Listed Dh265,000 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh190,000 (D) 1,600m
The National selections
6.30pm: Chaddad
7.05pm: Down On Da Bayou
7.40pm: Mass Media
8.15pm: Rafal
8.50pm: Yulong Warrior
9.25pm: Chiefdom
Jebel Ali Dragons 26 Bahrain 23
Dragons
Tries: Hayes, Richards, Cooper
Cons: Love
Pens: Love 3
Bahrain
Tries: Kenny, Crombie, Tantoh
Cons: Phillips
Pens: Phillips 2
PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
The years Ramadan fell in May
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Oppenheimer
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Three ways to limit your social media use
Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.
1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.
2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information.
3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The biog:
From: Wimbledon, London, UK
Education: Medical doctor
Hobbies: Travelling, meeting new people and cultures
Favourite animals: All of them
Company%C2%A0profile
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
The specs: 2018 Maxus T60
Price, base / as tested: Dh48,000
Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder
Power: 136hp @ 1,600rpm
Torque: 360Nm @ 1,600 rpm
Transmission: Five-speed manual
Fuel consumption, combined: 9.1L / 100km
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The biog
Job: Fitness entrepreneur, body-builder and trainer
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Favourite quote: We must become the change we want to see, by Mahatma Gandhi.
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Manchester City 2 (Mahrez 04', Ake 84')
Leicester City 5 (Vardy 37' pen, 54', 58' pen, Maddison 77', Tielemans 88' pen)
Man of the match: Jamie Vardy (Leicester City)
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
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- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Naga
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Panipat
Director Ashutosh Gowariker
Produced Ashutosh Gowariker, Rohit Shelatkar, Reliance Entertainment
Cast Arjun Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Kriti Sanon, Mohnish Behl, Padmini Kolhapure, Zeenat Aman
Rating 3 /5 stars
AUSTRALIA SQUAD
Steve Smith (capt), David Warner, Cameron Bancroft, Jackson Bird, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine, Chadd Sayers, Mitchell Starc.
