Sudan Breaks Diplomatic Ties with UAE Amid Alleged Support for Rival Forces
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Sudan cuts diplomatic ties with the UAE, accusing it of supporting rival paramilitary forces amid escalating conflict.
Sudan has severed diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), accusing the Gulf nation of providing support to the rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group engaged in Sudan’s ongoing civil conflict. The announcement of the diplomatic rupture came on the heels of a series of drone strikes on Port Sudan, an area previously seen as a safe haven amidst the conflict. These strikes, which have been ongoing since Sunday, have intensified fears of the spreading violence, further complicating an already dire humanitarian situation in the country.
Sudan’s Defence Minister, Yassin Ibrahim, voiced strong criticism of the UAE for allegedly violating Sudan’s sovereignty by providing support to the RSF. The UAE, according to Ibrahim, is using the RSF as a proxy force in Sudan’s civil war, which has raged on for over two years. The conflict, which pits the RSF against Sudan’s national army, has devastated the country, causing widespread suffering, displacement, and destruction.
In a statement on Tuesday, Minister Ibrahim accused the UAE of backing the RSF with both financial and military aid, fueling the conflict and prolonging the violence. The RSF has been a key player in Sudan’s civil war, and accusations of its involvement in war crimes and human rights abuses have mounted. While the UAE has consistently denied these allegations, Sudan’s accusations are part of a larger narrative of foreign involvement in the conflict, with the country’s leadership increasingly blaming external powers for exacerbating the violence.
As a result of these accusations, Sudan announced that it would withdraw its ambassador from the UAE and shut down its diplomatic missions in the Gulf nation. This move marks a significant escalation in the diplomatic rift between the two countries. The UAE, which has long had a complicated relationship with Sudan, is now at the center of a dispute that could have wider regional implications. Sudan’s decision to cut diplomatic ties with the UAE follows a series of similar actions in recent years, as the country grapples with the realities of the war and the foreign powers that continue to exert influence over its future.
In addition to diplomatic measures, Sudan’s military has accused the RSF of conducting drone strikes on key infrastructure in Port Sudan, including an international airport, a major power station, and a hotel. Port Sudan, located on the Red Sea coast, had previously remained largely untouched by the conflict, with many seeing it as one of the last safe areas in the war-torn nation. The drone attacks have shaken the city, and the Sudanese army has vowed to respond with force. On Wednesday, the army claimed to have thwarted an attack on Sudan’s largest naval base, using anti-aircraft missiles to neutralize the threat. The ongoing attacks on Port Sudan have raised concerns about the further destabilization of the region, and the international community is closely monitoring the situation.
The Sudanese government has long accused the UAE of arming the RSF, and these new allegations have only intensified the tensions between the two nations. Despite the UAE’s repeated denials, Sudan continues to hold the Gulf state responsible for fueling the violence that has torn the country apart. This is not the first time that foreign countries have been accused of interfering in Sudan’s internal affairs, and the growing international involvement in the conflict is complicating the prospects for peace.
International responses to the conflict have varied, with both the United States and the United Kingdom calling for an end to foreign support for the warring parties. The US and the UK have both expressed concerns about the humanitarian crisis in Sudan and have urged the UAE and other countries to cease any involvement in the conflict. These calls have largely gone unanswered, and Sudan’s accusations against the UAE are part of a broader regional struggle over influence and control.
In a separate but related development, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) recently dismissed Sudan’s case against the UAE, in which Sudan accused the Gulf nation of complicity in genocide. The court ruled that the UAE’s decision to opt out of Article 9 of the Genocide Convention meant that the country could not be sued by other states over allegations of genocide. The court’s decision has been seen as a setback for Sudan, which had hoped to use the legal process to hold the UAE accountable for its alleged role in the conflict.
Following the ICJ ruling, the UAE’s deputy assistant minister for political affairs, Reem Ketait, welcomed the decision, calling it “clear and decisive.” Ketait further emphasized the need for the international community to focus on bringing an end to the war in Sudan and to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches those in need. However, Sudan’s leadership has rejected these calls, accusing the UAE of undermining Sudan’s sovereignty and contributing to the ongoing conflict.
The conflict in Sudan has left the country in a state of ruin, with millions displaced and thousands of lives lost. The war has created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, and the involvement of foreign powers has only complicated efforts to reach a peaceful resolution. Sudan’s decision to sever ties with the UAE is a reflection of the growing frustration with external interference in the country’s internal affairs. As the conflict continues to rage, the prospects for peace remain uncertain, and the people of Sudan continue to bear the brunt of the violence.
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