By Introduction
Sudan, already mired in a brutal proxy war driven by foreign interference, is under siege. While framed by some as a civil conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the truth is more insidious: Sudan is the target of a foreign-backed assault, with the RSF acting as a proxy militia funded, armed, and directed by external powers — primarily the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
This reality came into sharp focus on May 6, 2025, when a coordinated drone assault on Port Sudan — the last remaining stronghold of the internationally recognized Sudanese government — shocked the world and revealed the hidden hands behind RSF’s military capabilities.
The Right Narrative has conducted an extensive investigation, corroborated by open-source intelligence, satellite imagery, expert testimony, and verified field reports, to expose the critical role played by the UAE and Chinese-made weapons in enabling the RSF’s escalating violence
Section I: Port Sudan Under Siege
The May 6th attack on Port Sudan marked a major escalation in the conflict. A series of drones equipped with precision-guided munitions struck the airport, the city’s port, and strategic fuel depots. The operation disrupted humanitarian aid routes, killed scores of civilians, and forced the UN to temporarily suspend critical supply chains into eastern Sudan.
Sudanese government officials quickly attributed the attack to RSF operatives supported by external powers. For the first time, Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs officially declared the UAE an active belligerent in the conflict, accusing it of launching or facilitating the drone strike through RSF-controlled bases in neighboring Chad.
Section II: The UAE’s Shadow War in Sudan
A. Arms Shipments and Military Bases
Sudanese and international sources, including UN experts, have reported that since early 2023, the UAE has been transporting weapons and equipment into RSF hands via Chad. Satellite imagery reveals a high-activity airfield in Amdjarass — a town in eastern Chad — where UAE military planes frequently land.
This airstrip has reportedly become a key logistical hub. From here, equipment is moved by land to RSF units in Darfur and Kordofan. The Right Narrative’s analysis of satellite images taken in March 2025 shows the presence of heavy military cargo aircraft consistent with the UAE’s C-17 fleet.
B. Weaponry Supplied by the UAE
- Wing Loong II Drones: These Chinese-manufactured combat drones have been used extensively in Yemen and Libya — both conflict zones where the UAE has played an influential role. Military analysts now confirm their use in Sudan, launched from UAE-controlled positions in Chad.
- NIMR Ajban Armored Personnel Carriers: Footage and verified photos have documented these UAE-manufactured vehicles in RSF convoys. Designed for harsh terrain, these APCs give RSF tactical mobility.
- Thermobaric Bombs: Debris from multiple bombings in Khartoum and North Darfur contain explosive residue and serial numbers linking them to thermobaric munitions manufactured in Serbia and procured by the UAE.
- Electronic Warfare and Surveillance Tools: The RSF’s advanced jamming and reconnaissance capabilities have drastically improved. According to captured materials, many of these systems are of UAE origin, some co-developed with Chinese firms.
C. Sudan’s Legal and Diplomatic Response
In April 2025, Sudan filed a complaint at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing the UAE of aiding and abetting genocide and crimes against humanity. The case includes satellite evidence, intercepted communications, and testimony from RSF defectors detailing arms deliveries and UAE officers providing tactical support.
Section III: Chinese Weapons in the Hands of the RSF
While Chinese state actors officially deny involvement, field evidence shows widespread use of Chinese arms by the RSF. China, which joined the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) in 2023, is under legal obligation to prevent weapons transfers likely to contribute to war crimes — a clause now under scrutiny.
A. Documented Chinese Weapons Used in Sudan
- Zijiang M99 Anti-Materiel Rifles
These high-powered rifles have been found in RSF positions across Khartoum and Darfur. Designed to pierce armored vehicles, the M99 enhances RSF sniper and ambush tactics. - PP87 82mm Mortar Bombs
Produced as recently as 2023, these Chinese mortars were initially believed to be SAF property, but RSF units reportedly captured and repurposed them during the fighting in late 2023. - Drone Jammers and Interceptors
Devices sourced to Shenzhen Skyfend Technology and other Chinese firms have been deployed by the RSF to neutralize SAF drone operations in urban and desert warfare. - CH-95 and Wing Loong UAVs
Several Chinese UAV models are reportedly being operated directly from RSF-aligned airbases in Darfur, suggesting either direct supply or third-party transshipment — likely via the UAE or Chad.
Section IV: Implications for International Law and Regional Stability
The influx of advanced foreign arms into Sudan, particularly from China and the UAE, represents a flagrant violation of multiple international conventions, including:
- The Arms Trade Treaty (ATT): China’s arms, especially those produced post-2023, are being used in conflict settings with clear risks of misuse.
- UN Embargoes on Darfur: The UAE’s arms shipments bypass long-standing restrictions on weapon deliveries to Darfur-based militias.
- Geneva Conventions: The use of thermobaric weapons, particularly in civilian areas, may constitute war crimes.
Sudan’s instability now threatens regional peace. If left unaddressed, the UAE’s and China’s roles could embolden other non-state actors and foreign powers to interfere militarily in African conflicts.
Section V: Testimonies from the Ground
Our correspondents in Kassala and Port Sudan interviewed survivors of the May 6 attack:
“I saw the drone circle, then strike. The sound was not like anything we had heard before,” said Amin Haroun, a nurse at a Port Sudan clinic. “We later found unexploded ordnance with clear markings.”
Section VI: The Path Forward
The international community must act decisively:
Ensure Accountability: Prosecutions must follow, either via the ICC or hybrid courts, to hold those responsible — RSF commanders, Emirati officials, and arms dealers — accountable.
Impose Sanctions on the UAE: Governments and UN bodies must investigate and sanction Emirati companies and individuals involved in arms trafficking to Sudan.
Audit Chinese Arms Transfers: Independent inquiries must assess how Chinese weapons reached the RSF and whether export controls were violated.
Support Sudanese Civil Institutions: Civil society, war crimes investigators, and humanitarian organizations must be funded and protected to gather evidence and assist survivors.
Equidem impedit officiis quo te. Illud partem sententiae mel eu, euripidis urbanitas et sit. Mediocrem reprimique an vim, veniam tibique omittantur duo ut, agam graeci in vim. Quot appetere patrioque te mea, animal aliquip te pri. Ad vis animal ceteros percipitur, eos tollit civibus percipitur no
Conclusion
Sudan’s suffering is not solely a product of internal strife. It is the result of a calculated proxy war waged by powerful foreign nations using the RSF as a tool to destabilize the country. The Right Narrative will continue to shed light on these hidden forces, amplifying the voices of those caught in the crossfire and demanding justice from the global community.
#JusticeForSudan #StopArmingRSF #HoldUAEAccountable.