WATCHING and reading about the ongoing conflicts, especially in the Middle East and Africa, is heart-breaking. The moti-vations for these wars are not necessarily internal, but are laced with international complicities. In Gaza, for instance, different actors and factors profoundly impact the state of affairs.

Hamas, which is a group that has gained much strength with the support of Iran and is also a part of the network of other militant groups in the area, exercises its control over Gaza.

The role of Iran is to counter the power of Israel, and to expand its own influence in the region. Turkiye, Qatar and others are also supporting the Palestinians in exchange for their influence in the larger Arab world.

Israel occupies an essential position in the conflict wheel, with its military operations, blockades and policies on settlements increasingly contributing to tensions and humanitarian crises.

On its back happens to be the United States and the West at large, thus altering the regional equilibrium of power and rendering the process of peace more challenging.

The operations of these local and global players not only perpetuate the violence, but also cause shifts in the political climate in Gaza as well as other Palestinian territories.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), many external actors have become involved, and their influence has often led to an increased level of violence.

The influential roles of Rwanda and Uganda are central in the equation, as they often mediate the conflict, sometimes by supporting different rebel groups.

Multinational companies, profit-driven as they are, have to enter into some kind of arrangement with rebellious groups to exploit valuable materials, such as coltan and diamonds.

Also, some Western countries have been favouring the military as well as some groups based purely on their own geopolitical interests.

In Sudan, the basic struggle is among military factions, such as the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). But the external influences have largely determined the conflict.

While Egypt and some Gulf states are involved, it is China that has emerged as the most potent force owing to its massive investment in oil and infra-structure projects, mostly in favour of the regime, to ensure continued access to resources.

Simply put, the common element in all these conflicts is access to resources that is likely to add to the geopolitical clout of the regional and global players involved.

Faisal Habib
Karachi

Published in Dawn, March 10th, 2025