This study explored the contradictory roles of Saudi Arabia and Egypt in the protracted and heavily devastative Sudanese conflict (2023–present). This conflict clearly represents one of the twenty-first century's most catastrophic humanitarian calamities as a result of the number of deaths (over 150,000) and displaced (over 14 million Sudanese are displaced). Using a mixed-methods approach combining document analysis and process tracing, this study reveals that Egypt's support for the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) stems from Nile water security imperatives and regime survival anxieties, while Saudi Arabia balances between conflict mediation and strategic interests in Red Sea dominance. Both nations have exacerbated the conflict despite peace initiatives, transforming Sudan into a regional proxy battlefield. Findings emphasize the urgent need for coordinated African Union-led diplomacy to neutralize destructive external interference and prioritize Sudanese sovereignty.

Keywords: African Security, Egypt Foreign Policy, Proxy Warfare, Sudan Conflict, Saudi Arabia Foreign Policy