“Bin Zayed” Stirs the Ingredients in “Salva Kiir’s” Kitchen

By: Rashan Oshi

The political and security tensions that have engulfed the region have now extended to South Sudan, initially sparked by a terrorist act carried out by the “Al-Dagalo” militia in Sudan. However, the situation quickly escalated far beyond that.

Smoke rises before the fire, and the hostile stances of some leaders within Salva Kiir’s regime indicate that the UAE’s attempt to strangle us has now reached our southern neighbor. This places us in a critical position: How do we handle vendettas and grudges that the UAE might exploit to sabotage the relationship between two nations bound by ethnic, cultural, and economic ties?

Before delving into what has unfolded in our southern neighbor, we must first trace events back to their origins for a clearer picture.

One of the earliest signs of Emirati influence over Salva Kiir’s regime was the dismissal of security advisor Tut Gatluak, a figure known for his strong solidarity with Sudan, and his replacement with a controversial businessman who has investment ties with Mohamed bin Zayed’s brothers.

At the same time, the reality on the ground in South Sudan paints a grim picture. Since its secession, the country has been plagued by persistent political and security crises, leading to the killing and displacement of millions to neighboring states.

Within just a few years, this politically and economically failed state saw Salva Kiir retreat into his palace, amassing wealth while his society fell into fragmentation.

Strategically, the South Sudanese regime has fallen completely under the influence of the UAE and its militias. If the UAE succeeds in seizing control of South Sudan’s oil, the southern border will become a corridor and storage hub for smuggling weapons to Bin Zayed’s militias in Sudan.

Thus, South Sudan serves as the most crucial part of the “Horseshoe Plan” to encircle our country, spanning from Chad, Ethiopia, and the Central African Republic to South Sudan.

So far, the UAE’s plan in South Sudan faces fierce resistance from a faction led by Dr. Riek Machar. However, I strongly believe that if the UAE fails to win him over, it will ignite further chaos to benefit from the ensuing instability.

The UAE is also attempting to escalate the long-dormant Abyei crisis. There is something suspicious brewing within Salva Kiir’s administration regarding its push for the implementation of a unilateral referendum conducted years ago. Tracing the UAE’s moves suggests that it is orchestrating a grand scheme to subjugate Sudan.

Meanwhile, the “Nazir” (chief) of the Misseriya tribe, Mukhtar Babu Nimir, is preoccupied with rallying his tribesmen to fight alongside the Al-Dagalo militia. Yet, in a calculated move, the latter has effectively handed over Abyei to the South Sudanese government, which is now working to expand its influence over the disputed region.

With the constant drumbeats of an imminent war echoing throughout South Sudan, “Nazir” Mukhtar may soon wake from his negligence to find his land forcibly taken.

Ultimately, the situation in South Sudan carries grave implications for Sudan’s national security. At the same time, Ethiopia is making inroads into Al-Fashaga, while the UAE tightens its grip on Sudan’s western border.

All of this should serve as a wake-up call for Sudan’s leadership to expand public mobilization, reinforce border security with trained forces, and acquire advanced weaponry—especially fighter jets—to safeguard Sudan’s borders from the UAE’s growing influence, now that its ambitions in Khartoum have crumbled.

With love and respect.