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Sudan war: UAE refutes claim of supplying weapons to RSF

Sudanese greet army soldiers loyal to army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan, on April 16, 2023.(AFP)

By Foreign Reporter | 24 Mar 2024

UAE's Deputy Permanent Representative countered Sudan's claims about the supply of weapons, asserting that such support would breach the arms embargo on Darfur.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has firmly rejected Sudan's accusations at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) that it supplied weapons and ammunition to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The RSF, led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, has been at war with Sudan's army, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. A civil war between the two sides began during Ramadan, on April 15, 2023, and has so far left tens of thousands dead and resulted in acute food shortages and a severe humanitarian crisis.

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In a letter to UNSC President Mohamed Abushahab, the UAE's Deputy Permanent Representative countered Sudan's claims about the supply of weapons, asserting that such support would breach the arms embargo on Darfur.

Mohamed's letter, as reported by the Sudan Tribune, dismissed the accusations, stating the UAE "deeply regrets the false allegations" and underlining its adherence to the sanctions regime.

He stressed that the UAE had furnished "comprehensive information" to the UN panel of experts overseeing the sanctions, demonstrating transparency and cooperation.

Furthermore, the communication highlighted the "deep and long-established relations" between the UAE and Sudan.

Mohamed further reiterated the UAE's position on the Sudanese crisis, advocating for "de-escalation" and a "return to the political process." He affirmed Dubai's continuous support for efforts aimed at resolving the conflict.

In their report to the UNSC, the experts noted credible accounts of weapons smuggling from Chad to Sudan's RSF. Cargo planes reportedly unloaded weapons at a Chad airport, which were later transported by trucks to the Darfur border and handed to the RSF.

The arms were subsequently distributed in Darfur or moved to Khartoum, the experts claimed.

The panel reached out to Chad and the UAE regarding these findings. While the UAE refuted involvement, maintaining that their flights carried humanitarian aid, Chad's response is pending.

Various international media reports have highlighted the UAE's alleged backing of the Sudanese paramilitary forces, accused of war crimes, atrocities, and severe human rights violations.