The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan, led by Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, commonly known as Hemedti, announced a suspension of all Sudanese exports to Egypt. This decision was made in retaliation for what Hemedti described as Egyptian interference in Sudan’s internal affairs.
Earlier in the week, Hemedti accused Egypt of conducting air strikes against his forces, a claim that was strongly denied by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.
The export ban will be enforced in regions of Sudan under RSF control. Abu Shoutal, a prominent RSF member in the Blue Nile area, issued a warning to merchants against shipping any goods to Egypt, stating that violators would face consequences.
“If merchants send even a single unit of their products to Egypt, they will be punished. Our exports should be directed to all neighboring countries, excluding Egypt,” he declared. He added that “any vehicle heading to Egypt via the al-Dabba crossing will be treated as an enemy.”
Sudanese exports to Egypt primarily consist of agricultural and animal products, including peanuts, corn, sesame, gum Arabic, camels, and cattle, most of which are sourced from RSF-controlled regions like Darfur and Kordofan. The RSF oversees areas bordering Egypt, which serve as crucial transit points for these exports.
This export ban is expected to complicate trade with Egypt. Journalist and civil activist Rasha Awad remarked to Asharq Al-Awsat that the ban signifies a critical shift in Sudan-Egypt relations. She cautioned that it could have serious consequences and potentially escalate into direct conflict between the RSF and Egypt. Awad also suggested that the situation might evolve into a regional conflict involving Ethiopia.
However, she questioned whether the RSF could provide viable alternatives for merchants, asking, “Who will purchase the restricted products, and is there a safe substitute for the Egyptian markets?” She also expressed concern that the ban might serve as a pretext to intensify the ongoing conflict in Sudan, noting that only time would reveal the outcome.
Analyst Mohammed Latif stated that relations between Sudan and Egypt would likely be irrevocably altered following this ban.
Meanwhile, RSF supporters shared videos showing trucks loaded with goods and livestock that were reportedly turned away at the Egyptian border, despite Hemedti’s prior ban on disseminating images or videos of his forces.