Israel Takes Sides in Sudan War, Angering Khartoum

For the first time, Israel has explicitly taken a side in the ongoing conflict in Sudan. A map presented by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week, outlining Israel's geopolitical alliances, designates the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by Mohammed Dagalo, as a friendly entity, alongside the United Arab Emirates. The RSF leadership has been accused of genocide in Darfur and atrocities during the current civil war.

Conversely, territories controlled by the regular Sudanese army, under General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, are marked as friendly to the "Sunni Diamond" bloc, which includes Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan, and Egypt. This development comes years after the US, under the Trump administration, persuaded al-Burhan to join the Abraham Accords in exchange for Sudan's removal from terror-sponsoring lists. However, a falling out between al-Burhan and his deputy Dagalo, the RSF commander, plunged Sudan into a brutal civil war, stalling normalization with Israel.

While Israel reportedly maintained contact with both warring factions, who have both been accused of war crimes, Netanyahu's map signals a clear choice. Abu al-Qasim Bortom, a former member of Sudan's Sovereign Council and an associate of al-Burhan, expressed anger over Israel's perceived support for the RSF. He stated that this move weakens al-Burhan's standing, widens the rift between him and Israel, and could push him closer to Israel's regional rivals like Iran and Turkey. Bortom also noted that such support diminishes the standing of those in Sudan who still favor relations with Israel, as backing the RSF is seen as enmity by many Sudanese.

The Prime Minister's office has not yet responded to inquiries from Kan 11 regarding the alliance map and Israel's declared stance in the Sudanese conflict.