Evolving Sudanese Crises and Maritime Security in the red Sea and its implications on Northeast Africa

The developing problems in Sudan and their effects on maritime security in the Red Sea region were investigated in this article. Since gaining independence in 1956, Sudan has seen ongoing political unrest marked by civil wars, coups, ethnic conflicts, and humanitarian catastrophes. The most current crisis broke out in April 2023 as a result of a bloody power struggle between Mohamed Hamdan Dagolo’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and Abdel Fattah al-Burhan’s Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). The conflict exacerbated Sudan’s pre-existing humanitarian and governance issues by causing extensive violence, significant civilian casualties, and widespread displacement. The study looked at how the ongoing conflict impacted regional stability and maritime security in the Red Sea, as well as the fundamental causes of the Sudanese legitimacy issue. The study used a qualitative research methodology and relied on secondary data from reliable international sources, policy publications, and scholarly literature. Power theory, which clarified the battle for political control between rival military players and the larger regional interests affecting the conflict, served as the foundation for the analysis. The results showed that human trafficking, refugee flows, weaponry proliferation, and cross-border insecurity had all been made worse by the long-running power struggle between SAF and RSF. By raising dangers like piracy, smuggling, and disruptions to trade routes, the crisis also put marine operations in the Red Sea at risk. The study came to the conclusion that in order to resolve Sudan’s internal strife and protect maritime security in the Red Sea, concerted regional and international actions were required