Conflict in Sudan: Allegations Against UAE Amidst Prolonged Turmoil

The Sudanese government has accused the UAE of extending the 17-month conflict by providing arms to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The UAE denied these allegations, labeling them as baseless. The U.N. Security Council has extended the arms embargo in Darfur, a key conflict area, until 2025.

The Sudanese government has leveled serious allegations against the United Arab Emirates, claiming it is providing weapons to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and thereby perpetuating the 17-month conflict. The UAE, in response, has dismissed these claims as entirely baseless and criticized the Sudanese government's unwillingness to engage in peace talks with its adversary.

The confrontation unfolded during a United Nations Security Council meeting, where all 15 council members voted to extend the arms embargo in Sudan's Darfur region until September 2025. This region remains a central battleground in the ongoing conflict.

Sudan has been in turmoil since April 2023, when longstanding tensions between its military and paramilitary leaders erupted into large-scale violence. Over 13 million people have been displaced, and a humanitarian crisis has ensued, with over 20,000 fatalities reported by the U.N. World Health Organization.

Sudanese Ambassador Al-Harith Mohamed accused the UAE of arming the RSF with heavy weaponry and profiting from illicit gold trade. In retaliation, UAE's Ambassador Mohamed Abushahab condemned Sudan's military for lacking political courage and using starvation as a weapon of war while avoiding peace negotiations.

The humanitarian situation in Darfur is dire, with mass displacement, restricted aid, and severe food shortages. Experts warn that 25.6 million people are at risk of acute hunger. The U.K. and U.S. have urged the international community to maintain focus on Sudan's crisis, calling for an independent force to protect civilians and expand the arms embargo nationwide.

Both the Sudanese military and RSF have been accused of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity. The International Criminal Court has found reasonable grounds to believe that potential war crimes and genocide are occurring in Darfur, intensifying the urgency for an international response.

(With inputs from agencies.)