Khartoum accuses UAE of direct involvement in drone strikes on Port Sudan
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Sudan accuses UAE of launching drone strikes on Port Sudan, escalating regional tensions.
Sudan has made a bold accusation against the United Arab Emirates (UAE), alleging that the Gulf state was directly involved in a drone attack on Port Sudan earlier this month. The charge marks a significant escalation in Sudan’s civil war, as it is the first time that Khartoum has publicly implicated the UAE in a direct military assault on Sudanese soil.
Speaking during a session at the United Nations in New York on Monday, Sudan’s Ambassador to the UN, Al-Harith Idriss, claimed the 4 May drone strike on Port Sudan was carried out from a UAE military base. He further alleged that the attack was supported by Emirati naval vessels operating in the Red Sea.
Idriss described the strike as a retaliatory move by the UAE following a Sudanese army operation on 3 May in Nyala, a city controlled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). That operation reportedly targeted an Emirati warplane suspected of aiding the RSF.
Although the UAE has denied allegations of backing the RSF in the past, it has not yet responded to this latest claim. Khartoum had already severed diplomatic ties with the UAE earlier this year, accusing it of arming and financing the RSF—a charge the UAE has consistently rejected.
The accusation has heightened tensions in a conflict that has already taken a devastating toll on the nation. The civil war, now in its third year, began as a power struggle between the Sudanese army and the RSF over the country’s transition to civilian governance. Instead, it has resulted in widespread violence, political instability, and humanitarian catastrophe.
Until recently, Port Sudan had been considered a relative safe zone amid the chaos. As the wartime administrative capital of Sudan, it became a hub for government officials, foreign diplomats, and international humanitarian agencies. The eastern coastal city was spared from the intense fighting that has engulfed other parts of the country, including the capital, Khartoum, and RSF strongholds like Nyala.
However, this perception of safety began to unravel in early May, when Port Sudan was subjected to a series of drone strikes. The strikes targeted military installations, the city’s main airport, and fuel depots, raising fears that the conflict is expanding to previously untouched regions.
The Sudanese government is now urging the United Nations, the African Union, and the Arab League to conduct a full investigation into the drone strike on Port Sudan. Officials are calling for those responsible to be held accountable, stressing that foreign intervention is exacerbating an already dire conflict.
The war has had catastrophic consequences for Sudan’s civilian population. Over 13 million people have been forced to flee their homes, either internally or across borders. Many are living in overcrowded camps with limited access to food, clean water, and medical care. Famine and disease are spreading rapidly, and the country’s healthcare system is near collapse.
Moreover, tens of thousands of people have lost their lives in the fighting, with no clear end to the violence in sight. Efforts by international mediators to broker a lasting ceasefire have repeatedly failed, as both sides continue to clash over control of key territories and political power.
The alleged drone strike, if confirmed, would mark a significant shift in the regional dynamics of the war. A direct military intervention by a foreign state, especially a wealthy and influential actor like the UAE, could further complicate efforts for peace and reconstruction.
With accusations flying and diplomatic relations deteriorating, Sudan’s conflict appears increasingly entangled in broader geopolitical rivalries. Observers warn that the involvement of foreign powers could prolong the war and deepen the suffering of the Sudanese people.
As the international community grapples with these allegations, all eyes are now on whether the UN and regional bodies will respond with an investigation—or whether Sudan’s call for justice will go unanswered amid global distractions.
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