Middle East and North Africa

Since April 15, 2023, Sudan has been torn apart by a devastating war that has effectively turned into a proxy conflict.The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia, acting as a proxy for the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is locked in a brutal battle with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). The conflict began after disputes between military commanders and the RSF leader over the integration of the RSF into the regular army.Hemedti, the leader of the RSF, seeks to establish absolute control over Sudan and create his own empire, with significant financial and strategic backing from the UAE. The RSF, leveraging this support, has exploited Sudan's natural resources, particularly in the northern regions where they control uranium and gold-rich lands. These resources are smuggled out of the country to fund their operations. The RSF also owns numerous companies both within and outside of Sudan, further consolidating their power and influence.The conflict has resulted in widespread atrocities against the civilian population, including:

Bombardment, rape, lack of documentation, isolation, lack of feminine hygiene products, displacement, mental health issues, unemployment, limited access to food, death, separation from family, forced illegal border crossings, inability to find shelter, limited water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities, kidnapping, exploitative visa processes, looting, bureaucratic impediments, diseases, inability to afford rent, poor network and phone connectivity, limited access to healthcare and medicine, lack of schooling, limited humanitarian assistance, difficulty in transportation, fuel shortages, and vulnerable groups such as orphans and older adults being at high risk, as well as a lack of cash.

Luckily for Petti they can still move to Tuscany

Since January 2024 the US has launched salvos of missiles, costing $1m to $4.3m each, against Houthi targets. The costly attacks led Senator Jack Reed, chairman of the US Senate Armed Services Committee, to admonish US President Joe Biden in January, saying: “So you’ve got this issue that will be emerging of how long can we continue to fire expensive missiles.”

To date, the US has lost at least three Reaper drones over Yemen, each costing $30m.

Estimates of the total cost of the operation range between $260m and $573m per month – that is, between $1.8bn and $4bn so far.

None of the US and its allies’ actions in the Red Sea have stopped the disruption of shipping lanes. Shipping and insurance costs have soared.