Observers say the importance of Darfur region It lies in the fact that it constitutes Strategic depth Internal and external to Sudan, as the region is directly linked to 4 countries, and controlling it means, from a military perspective, controlling the first western line of defense for all regions of Sudan, including Kordofan states North and the Nile River.
In addition to the ethnic, security, and local and regional political complexities associated with it, the Darfur region is considered an important home to huge reserves of natural resources and wealth.
The volatile security situation in Darfur has continued to dominate the world’s attention, amid fears of increasing irregular migration and arms smuggling in the border region, which includes a number of fragile countries and where reports indicate the spread of more than 6 million illegal weapons carried by terrorist groups outside the authority of their governments.
Geopolitical reasons
- The Darfur region is of great geopolitical importance due to its vast area and its border connections with four countries in the region, in addition to its large population and economic weight.
- The Darfur region extends over more than a quarter of the country’s area, with a total area of 493 thousand square kilometers.
- The region’s population is estimated at about 17 percent of Sudan’s total population of about 48 million people.
- The region has direct borders with four countries: Libya to the northwest, Chad to the west, the Central African Republic to the southwest, and South Sudan.
- While the outcome of the situation in Darfur will greatly affect the internal situation on the ground, it will also cast its shadow over Chad, Libya, the Central African Republic, and to a lesser extent, South Sudan.
Mohamed Khalifa, a professor of political science, stresses that the Darfur region has multi-dimensional political, economic and security importance.
Khalifa told Sky News Arabia: “The fighting is escalating in… Al Fasher It reflects the attempt of the two warring parties to control all areas of the region through its administrative and economic center and thus reach a stronger negotiating position.
Possible scenarios
Observers indicate that it has taken control. Rapid support Al-Fasher will enable him to control all areas of the Darfur region, thus securing military and logistical supplies more easily, sending reinforcements outside the region, and concluding control over Kordofan, in addition to the Northern and River Nile states.
If the army and the movements allied with it win the city, they will be able to move to retake the cities of North Darfur and also the other four states in the region, and cut off the major source of human and logistical supplies for the Rapid Support Forces. The movements fighting alongside the army will also be able to open up outside the region to the east and contribute to securing the Northern and River Nile states, and perhaps move to aid the army in the capital, Khartoum.
After economic
According to economic expert Wael Fahmy, the Darfur region, due to its strategic geographical location, links Sudan to a vital market in 4 African countries with a population of more than 100 million people.
In an interview with Sky News Arabia, he explained: “The region has huge economic potential, and if its population and commercial weight is utilized, it can contribute more than 15 percent of Sudan’s gross national product.”
Darfur region accounts for about 20 percent of the total livestock wealth in the world. Sudan Estimated at about 130 million heads, it is also characterised by a huge stock of mineral resources such as iron, lead, granite, chromium, copper, aluminium, marble, nickel and uranium.
