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Militias' Manifestation and Security Contests in the Major East Sudan Region1

  1. Introduction:
    A community's social cohesion, political stability, and security are all heavily influenced by political and economic neglect and their interactions. Particularly in a fragile state, disparities in economics, resources, and power can worsen social unrest and tensions, potentially leading to instability and insecurity. In East Sudan, a geopolitical region with a complex history of marginalization and isolation, escalating ethnic conflicts over wealth, livestock, and authority have created uncertainty. The region hosts numerous ethnic groups; besides the dominant Beja, there are Nuba, Husa, Darfurians, and other immigrants. However, relations and social harmony among these groups remain fragile. The area is rich in natural resources, including an 853-kilometer coastline along the Red Sea (WHO, 2025), vast arable land, pastures, and gold deposits. The diverse sources of income encompass port activities, agriculture, grazing, and illicit enterprises, many involving trafficking. Despite its natural wealth, the region has been neglected and underdeveloped. The situation in East Sudan is further complicated by the interplay of national and regional politics and threats, as well as the region's relatively low levels of wealth, power, and human development. Recently, the spread of ethnic militias, increased arms proliferation, ongoing conflict in Sudan, and regional and international influences have worsened the scenario. For example, the outbreak of war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on April 15, 2013, introduced new challenges to East Sudan.
    1 This paper is a part of a series on war and peace in Sudan conducted by the Sudan Scope Platform. It is an inductive examination of the rise and proliferation of local militias in the eastern Sudan region and their effects on the region’s security, as well as the paths of war and peace in Sudan. In addition to available literature from media reports, research papers, and individual works published online, the researcher included primary survey information sources (interviews, observations, and field reports). The primary and secondary sources, organized, classified, and presented in a methodical way to analyze the issue. For reference and credibility, the identities and locations of several interview participants have been omitted due to current security concerns and the benefit of some individuals.
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  3. pipeline, many irrigated and semi-mechanized agricultural schemes" (International Crisis Group, 2006). The region is divided into three states: Red Sea, Kassala, and Gedaraif, with a population of over six million people, nearly half of whom are members of the Beja tribes that live between the Nile River and the Red Sea (Arab Wall, 2023). These include the Hadandwa, Amarar tribes mostly in Red Sea State, the Beni Amer, divided between Sudan and Eritrea, and the Bishariyyn, who are divided between Sudan and Egypt (Institute for Security Studies, 2007). Along with the Beja tribe, the territory is home to a variety of other communities. These include the Shukriyas of Gedarif state. Other groups, such as the Shaiqiya and Ja'aliyin, form the main economic and administrative class in the East. The Rashaida (nomads) of Kassala state and the areas around the Eritrean border, as well as West African tribes such as the Husa, Zabarma, and Bargo, account for 30 to 40% of Gedarif's population. Darfurians, Nuba, and southern Sudanese people are also concentrated in Port Sudan and the Kassala region in Eastern Sudan (Assal & Ali, 2007). Bedawiye (Cushitic), Tigre (Semitic), Arabic, and a few other African tongues are among the most widely spoken in the region.
  4. The region is rich in natural resources and has a thriving economy. Its resources include seaports, water, arable land, grazing areas, and gold mining, which have all determined the distribution of resources and influenced the region’s economic activity and people's lifestyles (Manzo, 2017). Representing these resources, seaport and wide-ranging agriculture provide the region's economic activities and revenues. Both contribute significantly to the region's income, making East Sudan one of the richest areas of the country (World Bank, 2001). Yet, the region's population distribution and geographical factors have historically affected economic activity and livelihoods, including agriculture, trade, and grazing, resulting in different economic structures and ethnic economic activities.