Updated April 10, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.*
-Analysis-
Foreign intervention has fueled Sudan‘s devastating civil war, with multiple countries supporting the different warring parties. The United Arab Emirates (UAE), however, stands out. Its support has been fundamental to the notorious paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which has been fighting against the Sudanese military since April 2023.
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Multiple reports reveal the UAE systemic military, financial, political and media support to the RSF, which is accused of atrocities including genocide, war crime and crimes against humanity, especially in Sudan’s western region of Darfur. This support came as the UAE has sought to impose its agenda on the region and strengthen its influence through weapons, upending efforts to achieve peace in Sudan.
Sudan has now moved a step further, officially accusing the United Arab Emirates of being complicit in genocide at the International Court of Justice, alleging the UAE armed Sudan’s paramilitary RSF to target the non-Arab Massalit community in Darfur. The UAE has denied the charges, calling them political theatrics. Sudan is seeking reparations and urgent measures to prevent further atrocities. The ICJ must now decide if it has jurisdiction.
The war started in April 2023 when simmering tensions between the leaders of the military and the RSF exploded into open fighting in the capital, Khartoum, and other cities across the country. The conflict has killed more than 28,000 people and has forced more than 13 million people to flee from their homes, including some 3 million who have crossed into neighboring countries, amid widespread atrocities including ethnically-motivated killing and rape and gang-rape, according the UN and rights groups.
Sudan has become a key axis in the UAE’s strategy in Africa and the Middle East, which aims to achieve political and economic dominance while curbing the democratic ambitions in the region. Over the past decades, the UAE has invested about $60 billion in Africa, making it the fourth largest foreign direct investor on the continent after China, the European Union and the United States.
African ports
The UAE has pledged an additional billion in new investments in Africa, three times China’s commitments. Key areas of Emirati investment include ports, supply chains, mining, renewable energy and agriculture.
The UAE has sought to control global trade routes by acquiring ports across Africa through companies such as DP World and Abu Dhabi Ports Group, which are owned by the governments of Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Both firms invested in ports in Egypt and Algeria on the Mediterranean, Senegal, Guinea, Congo and Angola on the Atlantic Ocean, Mozambique, Tanzania and Kenya on the Indian Ocean, and Somaliland, Puntland, Djibouti, Eritrea, Sudan and Egypt on the Red Sea.
Gold mining in Darfur
In Sudan, the UAE is the main importer of gold, and has multi-billion dollar plans to develop ports on the Red Sea coast. It also invests in agriculture, water and livestock projects.
The UAE has linked its investments to military influence. It has signed military cooperation agreements with many African countries, including Ethiopia and Chad, in addition to its participation in the NATO-led military intervention in Libya.
Since 2015, it has recruited Sudanese fighters to fight in Yemen’s civil war, and supported the RSF which is commanded by Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, whose tribe controls gold mining areas in Darfur.
Weapon flows
It’s notable that, much like what happened in countries in the Middle East after the Arab spring, the democratic transition that followed the overthrow of longtime Sudanese dictator Omar al-Bashir in a popular uprising has been aborted.
This was not only a result of the conflict and disagreements between politicians and the military. Foreign countries have their share in this failure, notably the UAE which supported the military and the RSF against civilians before the 2023 war.
When the war started, the UAE sided with the RSF, providing weapons to the paramilitary force mainly through Libya and Chad to help maintain a continuous supply chain despite sanctions and an international ban on transporting weapons to Darfur, the RSF stronghold.
The UAE provides cover for the commercial, financial, logistical and public relations operations of the Rapid Support Forces, while wounded RSF fighters are regularly treated in UAE hospitals.
The UAE has also brought in mercenaries to fight alongside the RSF from neighboring countries. Gold smuggling — mostly to the UAE — also helped support the RSF military operations.
What the White House should do
Many steps should be taken to help restore peace in Sudan, including exposing and ending the UAE poisonous role in Sudan’s conflict.
Western governments, particularly the new U.S. administration, should openly condemn the UAE’s role in destabilizing Sudan. The UAE is sensitive to its international image and promotes itself as a progressive and neutral player in the Middle East. Exposing its deep involvement in Sudan’s war through the media and civil society will undermine this narrative and disrupt its bias towards the RSF.
The international community can limit the financial resources directed to the RSF though sanctioning companies linked to the UAE that finance the RSF’s operations, such as gold trading companies. This could weaken the RSF and push it to take real steps towards a ceasefire.
The Sudanese people should determine their future away from foreign influence, and strengthen the voices of Sudanese activists, citizens, and leaders who call for peace and democracy, and support Sudanese-led initiatives to achieve peace.
The war in Sudan is complex and difficult to bring to an end. But it will certainly not stop as long as foreign countries, particularly the UAE, intervene and fuel the conflict to achieve their interests.
This issue goes beyond the borders of Sudan itself, and represents a challenge to global values related to peace and justice. The international community will contribute to supporting the Sudanese people’s right to self-determination if it confronts the UAE’s destabilizing policies.
*Originally published February 3, 2025, this article was updated April 10, 2025 with news about Sudan accusing the UAE of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
