As the humanitarian crisis in Sudan deepens due to an ongoing civil war, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been accused of exacerbating the 17-month conflict by supporting the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their allies.
The Sudanese government and army have presented evidence alleging Abu Dhabi’s involvement, but the UAE has dismissed these claims as “false” and “ludicrous”.
The civil war, which began in April 2023, is Sudan’s third major conflict since the nation gained independence in 1956. This long history of warfare has resulted in the deaths and displacement of millions.
Since the outbreak of the latest conflict, approximately 15,000 people have died, and over 8.2 million have been displaced, creating one of the largest displacement crises in the world.
Tensions between the Sudanese government and the UAE have escalated, particularly following a heated exchange during a UN Security Council meeting in July. Sudan’s Ambassador to the UN, Al-Harith Mohamed, accused the UAE of supplying the RSF with heavy weapons, missiles, and ammunition, and claimed that the UAE is “profiting from this war through the illegal exploitation of gold”.
In response, UAE’s UN Ambassador Mohamed Abushahab condemned the accusations, labeling them a “cynical attempt to deflect attention from the failings of the Sudanese Armed Forces”.