By Introduction
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been repeatedly accused of playing a destructive role in Sudan’s ongoing war by providing military, financial, and logistical support to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group responsible for widespread atrocities, including ethnic cleansing, mass killings, and sexual violence. Multiple reports from the United Nations, human rights organizations, and investigative journalists have documented the UAE’s violations of international law, including breaches of UN arms embargoes, covert military operations disguised as humanitarian aid, and complicity in war crimes.
This article examines the UAE’s role in Sudan’s conflict, analyzing documented evidence of its violations and the legal and humanitarian consequences of its actions.
1. Violation of UN Arms Embargo and Military Support to the RSF
UN Reports on Arms Transfers
In January 2024, a United Nations Panel of Experts on Sudan released a damning report confirming that the RSF had received advanced weaponry, including:
- Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs)
- Howitzers and anti-aircraft weapons
- Thermobaric munitions (vacuum bombs)
- Kornet anti-tank missiles
The report stated that these weapons were being smuggled into Darfur via Chad, Libya, and South Sudan, with Eastern Chad serving as the primary route. The panel found “credible” evidence that the UAE was supplying the RSF, constituting a violation of the UN arms embargo imposed on Darfur since 2004.
Evidence of UAE-Supplied Weapons
- In April 2024, Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) recovered six shipping crates of thermobaric munitions in Omdurman, marked with UAE military codes and linked to Adasi, a subsidiary of the UAE’s EDGE Group (a state-owned defense conglomerate).
- In September 2023, the RSF used Kornet missiles against SAF positions, which were traced back to Emirati stockpiles.
These findings confirm that the UAE has been arming a militia responsible for war crimes, in direct violation of international arms control laws.
2. Covert Military Operations Under the Guise of Humanitarian Aid
The Amdjarass Drone Base in Chad
One of the most disturbing revelations is the UAE’s use of humanitarian cover for military operations. Investigations by The New York Times, BBC, and Amnesty International exposed a secret drone base in Amdjarass, Chad, operated under the pretext of an Emirati Red Crescent facility.
- The facility includes a hidden drone hangar and weapons bunker.
- Chinese-made drones (likely Wing Loong-2 models) with a 1,000-mile range were observed flying over El Fasher and Nyala, providing surveillance and targeting data for RSF attacks.
- These drones are controlled either from Amdjarass or directly from the UAE, confirming direct Emirati military involvement in Sudan’s war.
Humanitarian Aid as a Smokescreen
The UAE has long presented itself as a major humanitarian donor in Sudan, but evidence suggests that its aid operations are used to conceal weapons shipments. For example:
- Emirati flights labeled as “medical aid” were found transporting military supplies to the RSF.
- The UAE’s Red Crescent Society has been accused of facilitating arms transfers under the guise of relief operations.
This constitutes a clear violation of international humanitarian law, which prohibits the misuse of aid for military purposes.
3. UAE Nationals Directly Supporting the RSF
Leaked Documents and Passport Recoveries
A leaked 41-page document submitted to the UN Security Council revealed that:
- Four Emirati passports were found in a wrecked vehicle in Omdurman after an RSF attack.
- The individuals were linked to UAE intelligence, suggesting direct involvement of Emirati operatives in combat operations.
This aligns with reports that Emirati military advisors have been assisting the RSF in logistics, drone warfare, and weapons handling.
4. UAE’s Role in RSF War Crimes and Ethnic Cleansing
RSF Atrocities in Darfur
The RSF, backed by the UAE, has been accused of:
- Massacres in El Geneina (West Darfur), where thousands of Masalit civilians were killed in 2023.
- Systematic sexual violence against women and girls.
- Burning entire villages and forcing mass displacements.
A 142-page dossier submitted to the UK’s War Crimes Unit details these atrocities, emphasizing command responsibility—meaning RSF leaders (and by extension, their foreign backers) knew or should have known about these crimes.
Legal Accountability: Sudan’s ICJ Case Against the UAE
In March 2025, Sudan filed a case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing the UAE of:
- Violating the Genocide Convention by supporting the RSF’s ethnic cleansing in Darfur.
- Breaching the UN Charter by interfering in Sudan’s sovereignty.
However, in May 2025, the ICJ dismissed the case due to the UAE’s reservation to the Genocide Convention, which exempts it from ICJ jurisdiction. Despite this, Sudan severed diplomatic ties with the UAE, calling its actions “a blatant violation of international law.”
5. International Condemnation and Calls for Sanctions
US Congressional Pressure
In December 2023, a group of Democratic US lawmakers demanded the UAE halt its support for the RSF, citing evidence of weapons transfers and logistical aid.
UN and Human Rights Organizations
- Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have repeatedly called for an independent investigation into UAE arms transfers.
- The UN Panel of Experts recommended sanctions against entities involved in arms smuggling to the RSF.
Despite this, the UAE has denied all allegations, claiming its involvement is purely humanitarian. However, the mounting evidence suggests otherwise.
Conclusion: The Need for Accountability
The UAE’s role in Sudan’s war is one of the most egregious violations of international law in recent years. By arming, funding, and enabling the RSF, the UAE has contributed to:
- War crimes and ethnic cleansing in Darfur.
- Undermining peace efforts.
- Violating UN arms embargoes.
The international community must:
- Impose targeted sanctions on UAE entities involved in arms transfers.
- Investigate UAE officials for complicity in war crimes.
- Pressure the UAE to cease all support for the RSF.
Without accountability, the UAE’s actions will continue to fuel one of the world’s deadliest conflicts, with devastating consequences for Sudan’s civilians.
Sources
- UN Panel of Experts Report on Sudan (2024) – UN Documents
- Amnesty International Investigations – Amnesty.org
- The New York Times Exposé on UAE Drones in Sudan – NYTimes.com
- BBC Reports on UAE Arms Smuggling – BBC.com
- ICJ Case: Sudan vs. UAE (2025) – ICJ-CIJ.org
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