Libération: UAE adding fuel to the fire in the region

The French newspaper Libération attacked the ruling regime in the UAE for spreading chaos, ruin and destruction in the Middle East and its anti-democracy approach.

Libération said in a report, entitled “The United Arab Emirates and its Intensive Diplomatic Activity”, that in Yemen, Libya, Sudan, and Syria, the Coronavirus crisis did not limit Abu Dhabi’s extensive international activity: “a costly financial presence with contradictory repercussions.”

The newspaper added that the economic slowdown has not in any way curbed its enthusiasm regarding interventions in external conflicts.

“While the countries of the world are under quarantine, Abu Dhabi continued to fuel conflicts adding fuel to the fire in the region,” the newspaper added.

Libération stated that in Yemen or Libya, where fighting has intensified in recent weeks, despite calls by the United Nations for a ceasefire to face the Coronavirus pandemic, the UAE’s interference and standing on the side of these civil wars is clear.

However, retired general Khalifa Haftar, ally of the Emirates and France, suffered major military setbacks. This failure was not his first, while position has further weakened since the beginning of the year due to the Turkish intervention in favor of the internationally recognized Government of National Accord.

In addition to Libya and Yemen arena, the Emiratis have also stepped up their intervention in crises throughout the Middle East and the Africa in the recent years. Abu Dhabi provided great political and financial support to Egypt’s dictator Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

During 2019, the UAE pressed the army in Sudan so that it would not give in to the demands of the rebels. It also supplied the African Sahel states with military equipment.

The French newspaper concluded, “the UAE’s strategy is anti-democratic, and it is always interpreted into an aggressive campaign.”