United Nations Unveils Documented Evidence Exposing UAE’s Aggressive Role in Sudan

United Nations’ Documentation Reveals UAE’s Active Involvement in Sudan, Backing Rapid Support Forces Militias to Escalate Internal Conflict

The British Financial Times highlighted that a leaked United Nations document included “reliable” evidence that the UAE sent shipments of weapons to the Rapid Support Forces militias.

The United Nations Security Council’s expert-prepared report highlights regular deliveries of weapons and ammunition via cargo planes to an airport in Chad, subsequently transferred to the Rapid Support Forces stationed along the Sudanese border.

Despite the UAE’s denials, some analysts believe that its alleged support was crucial in strengthening the Rapid Support Forces.

Hamid Khalafallah, a Sudan expert and doctoral researcher at the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom, stated, “Ceasing UAE support and severing ties with the Rapid Support Forces could potentially lead to a cessation of war within a day, with an estimated 80% likelihood.”

The Rapid Support Forces, led by Lieutenant General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, have been fighting the Sudanese Armed Forces for control of the country since April. The government forces are led by the country’s de facto president and army commander, Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.

According to the UN humanitarian agency, the fight has resulted in the deaths of over 13,000 individuals, displacement of approximately 7.6 million people, and left nearly 25 million, representing over half of the country’s population, requiring humanitarian assistance.

Hemedti’s militia presently exerts control over most of Sudan’s historic stronghold in the western Darfur region, along with parts of the capital Khartoum. Moreover, they successfully captured Wad Madani, Sudan’s second-largest city and a pivotal center for humanitarian relief efforts, just last month.

According to the UN report, the Rapid Support Forces, originating from the Arab Janjaweed militia, along with their associates, have perpetrated atrocities in Darfur since the conflict began. These actions are deemed war crimes and potentially qualify as crimes against humanity.

Adding that the Sudanese Armed Forces also committed war crimes, for example by using aerial bombardment and heavy shelling in urban areas.

According to the UN report, Hemedti’s militia utilized Sudan’s natural resources to fund the conflict. The report indicated that the paramilitary organization reinvested proceeds from Sudan’s gold trade, which it largely monopolized before the war, into various industries.

This enabled it to “obtain weapons, pay salaries, finance media campaigns, exert pressure, and purchase support for political organizations and armed groups.”

Six of the entities allegedly used by the RSF and SAF to continue their war efforts were hit with EU sanctions this week.

The European Union accused one of the two companies associated with the Rapid Support Forces, namely Al-Junaid Diversified Activities Limited, which had addresses in the Emirates, of facilitating the transfer of weapons from the Emirates.

According to the European Union regulation, the Rapid Support Forces leverage Aljunied gold production and exports to obtain military backing from the Emirates, which is the destination for the majority of Sudan’s gold production through smuggling.

The conflict has attracted many other countries vying for influence in strategically located Sudan, which borders the Red Sea and stretches across the Middle East and Africa.

Aside from the UAE, which has expanded its influence over the past decade in the Horn of Africa and is an ally of Ethiopia, Egypt has supported the Sudanese army, albeit, to a limited extent, analysts say, while Saudi Arabia maintains ties with both warring parties and has hosted peace talks in Jeddah.

Despite the involvement of the United States in multiple peace talks, efforts to quell the violence have proved futile. Analysts contend that these discussions suffer from insufficient coordination, a lack of clear strategy, and inadequate support from significant stakeholders.

As the conflict persists without any signs of easing, apprehensions mount that the Sudanese war will persist, potentially leading to the emergence of new factions prone to local conflicts. Such developments could escalate civilian suffering and pose challenges for peace negotiations.

Khalaf Allah said that this is what happened in the past, noting that the Rapid Support Forces were “a militia that was created, empowered and supported by the army, and is now fighting against the army.”