Militia-backed UAE Seizes Control of Sudan’s Abundant Resources
Observers have noted a strong connection between the UAE’s backing of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces militias and Abu Dhabi’s intentions to exploit the country’s vast agricultural and mineral wealth.
Despite providing $70 million to UN agencies for Sudan’s humanitarian crisis, there is increasing evidence that the UAE is supplying arms to the Rapid Support Forces in their conflict with the Sudanese Armed Forces.
A report from Middle East Eye, a British website, emphasized that the UAE’s support for the militias persists, even as over 750,000 Sudanese are at risk of famine, more than 15,000 lives have been lost, and over 10.2 million people have been displaced.
Observers argue that the UAE’s financial support for the devastating conflict in Sudan is driven by its desire to control Sudanese territory, including its seaports, minerals, and agricultural resources like crops and livestock.
“The Rapid Support Forces act as the UAE’s arm in Sudan,” said Amjad Farid al-Tayeb, a political analyst and former senior aide to Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok.
Gulf countries’ agricultural investments in Sudan to address food insecurity date back to the 1970s.
The UAE imports 90% of its food and suffers from water scarcity and limited arable land.
According to René Felf, co-founder of Grain, the UAE’s recent major agricultural investments in Sudan focus on animal feed (mainly alfalfa), crops, and livestock.
The volume of exports from Sudan to the UAE is difficult to determine due to the prevalence of smuggling networks and illicit trade routes.
The UAE exerts significant control over Sudan’s agricultural sector, with the International Holding Company (IHC), its largest listed firm, and Jenaan Investments managing over 50,000 hectares of farmland. Additionally, the Abu Hamad Agricultural Project, spanning 162,000 hectares, is another major development.
This project, led by the Agricultural Export Development Company in collaboration with Dal Group, Sudan’s largest private company, aims to link the agricultural area to a new Red Sea hub, Abu Umama Port, constructed and operated by Abu Dhabi Ports Group. Sudan will receive 35 percent of the port’s profits.
The Abu Amama port will allow the UAE to exert control over Sudanese territory and trade routes, playing a crucial role in its military, security, and logistics strategies.
The UAE has invested an initial $6 billion in the project.
The UAE exerts significant control over Sudan’s agricultural sector, with the International Holding Company (IHC), its largest listed firm, and Jenaan Investments managing over 50,000 hectares of farmland. Additionally, the Abu Hamad Agricultural Project, spanning 162,000 hectares, is another major development.
This project, led by the Agricultural Export Development Company in collaboration with Dal Group, Sudan’s largest private company, aims to link the agricultural area to a new Red Sea hub, Abu Umama Port, constructed and operated by Abu Dhabi Ports Group. Sudan will receive 35 percent of the port’s profits.
Eltayeb, now a fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, claimed that the Emiratis initially sought to exploit Sudan’s resources but, when they were unable to gain control of the land, shifted towards direct colonization by leveraging the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), benefiting from the impunity they enjoy from the international community.
Meanwhile, reports suggest the UK has sought to downplay scrutiny of the UAE’s involvement in Sudan. According to a June report from the Guardian, the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office applied pressure on African diplomats to deter criticism of the UAE.
When negotiating investments, Emirati private companies often engage with Sudanese counterparts and local authorities. Omar, a Sudan expert, pointed out that the RSF, notorious for its human rights abuses, has emerged as a “practical option” for foreign investors.
A Sudanese expert, speaking anonymously, revealed that in the years before the war, the Sudanese government rejected multiple Emirati proposals for agricultural deals, deeming the terms unfair. These deals promised significant profits for the UAE but offered minimal benefits to local communities, reflecting an extractive approach by the Emiratis.
Omar, a Sudan expert, explained that the Sudanese government’s legitimacy has waned in recent years, and public confidence in the government’s ability to implement policies is low. He noted that one of the factors contributing to the war is the immense growth of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which now surpasses the Sudanese government in operational capacity.
“What the UAE can secure from the RSF are guarantees of gold and future agricultural production. The RSF is a much more powerful force for implementation since it operates without concern for public relations or human rights,” Omar added.
Alex de Waal, executive director of the World Peace Foundation, described the UAE’s strategy in Sudan as centered around “real estate investment,” where the focus is on acquiring land for potential future development.
“The UAE is leasing land on a large scale, possibly less for immediate food production and more for land grabbing and creating a land bank. With control over vast areas, it can absorb short-term losses while holding valuable long-term assets,” de Waal explained.
He also noted that the UAE’s ambition to dominate seaports for logistical advantages is part of a broader strategy seen in other regions, including Yemen, Djibouti, and Somalia.
“The Sudanese Red Sea coast is a crucial passage for over 60% of international trade, and by fueling instability in Sudan, the UAE sees an opportunity to gain control of these strategic coasts,” de Waal explained. He emphasized that the UAE’s ultimate goal is to dominate Sudanese seaports for commercial purposes.
He also pointed out that Sudan has more than 700 kilometers of largely untapped Red Sea coastline, presenting significant expansion opportunities.
The UAE’s support for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) is critical to safeguarding its commercial and political influence in Sudan, which aligns with its broader ambition to play a leading role in the global food system. Abu Dhabi aims to top the Global Food Security Index by 2051.
In 2018, the UAE signed the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement, committing to provide logistical support to various countries to enhance African trade globally.
To realize this ambition, the UAE aims to establish a global network of agricultural operations, ensuring access to crucial resources like water and land and securing trade routes by sea, air, and land.
Despite ongoing violence and the international community’s silence regarding the UAE’s alleged ties to the atrocities committed by the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan—including mass killings, rape, and sexual violence—the situation continues to escalate.
