US Congress Threatens to Suspend Arms Sales to UAE Over Role in Sudan Conflict
Two Democratic lawmakers in the United States sent a letter to the Biden administration, threatening to block offensive arms sales to the UAE due to its support for the civil war in Sudan by arming the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militias.
Senator Chris Van Hollen and Congresswoman Sara Jacobs addressed President Biden in their letter, warning that lawmakers would seek a vote on a resolution to block the sale of offensive weapons to the UAE, including $1.2 billion worth of missiles, unless Biden certifies that Abu Dhabi does not support the RSF.
The letter, published by Politico this week, stated: “We are deeply concerned about reports that the UAE has provided material support, including weapons and ammunition, to the RSF amid the civil war in Sudan, and we believe the U.S. should halt offensive arms sales until this support ends.”
The letter added, “If your administration provides written confirmation that the UAE is not supplying the RSF with weapons and has committed to refraining from such transfers in the future, we will have achieved our goal and will not need to call for a vote on this legislation in Congress.”
The Sudan war between the army and the RSF, a paramilitary group, began in April 2023, leading to what the United Nations has described as the “worst” displacement crisis in the world.
The Biden administration has largely ignored the war in Sudan while it has been embroiled in the Israel-Gaza and Lebanon conflicts.
The fighting has displaced over eight million people internally, with more than three million fleeing abroad.
The country in northeastern Africa is on the brink of famine, according to relief agencies. A United Nations investigation also found that both sides had committed human rights violations, with the RSF particularly involved in sexual violence.
The RSF is led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemetti. The United States has specifically accused the UAE of supporting the RSF, with a leaked UN report detailing UAE support for the militia.
A senior U.S. official noted that many American officials view the UAE as “key” to the war, but the administration has been “too distracted” to press Abu Dhabi seriously on its support.
In September, Biden classified the UAE as a “major defense partner,” a move that could make it eligible for more advanced U.S. weapons and technology.
According to Politico, many U.S. officials working on African policy are angry at what they see as “double standards,” as the U.S. criticizes Russian war crimes in Ukraine but refuses to take stronger action against the UAE in Sudan.
According to The New York Times, Vice President Kamala Harris raised the issue during a meeting with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in December.
The lawmakers pointed to “sufficient evidence” that the UAE supports the RSF, adding that Biden’s ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, publicly confronted the UAE regarding its role in the war.
The lawmakers wrote: “We support a mutually beneficial relationship with the UAE and do not seek to end arms sales permanently. However, the U.S.-UAE partnership should not come with a blank check.”
They added, “The United States should not send arms to the UAE as long as it continues to support a group that is a key driver of the humanitarian disaster in Sudan.”
Last year, the U.S. imposed sanctions on Hemetti’s brother, Al-Joni Hamdan Dagalo, who lives in the UAE. U.S. officials claim that the RSF conducts a profitable trade in gold.
The lawmakers welcomed the sanctions imposed by Biden but emphasized that more efforts are needed.
