Sudan’s Foreign Ministry has sharply criticized the United Arab Emirates, accusing it of using diplomatic platforms to shield the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which Khartoum labels a terrorist group responsible for atrocities and war crimes amid the country’s ongoing conflict.
In a strongly worded statement issued Saturday, the Sudanese government alleged that Emirati officials had taken steps during last week’s Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) meetings in New York to block language condemning the RSF and to undermine international solidarity with Sudan’s transitional government.
“We call on the international community not to allow the Abu Dhabi regime to misuse global forums to promote impunity and protect terrorism and genocide, both of which are embodied by the RSF,” the Foreign Ministry said.
The Sudanese government has repeatedly accused the UAE of backing the RSF through arms and financial support — claims bolstered, according to Khartoum, by mounting evidence and reports from international human rights organizations. Abu Dhabi has consistently denied any involvement in fueling the Sudanese conflict.
Accusations at the NAM Meeting
According to the Foreign Ministry, the Sudanese delegation monitored what it called “desperate efforts” by the UAE’s representatives during expert-level sessions of the Non-Aligned Movement. These included attempts to exclude references to solidarity with Sudan and to avoid labeling the RSF as a rebellion against the country’s constitutional legitimacy.
The Ministry further claimed that the UAE attempted to insert language into the draft communiqué that would reference an alternative government — a proposal Sudan views as an endorsement of the RSF’s reported efforts to establish a parallel administration in territories under its control.
Efforts to Form Parallel Authority
The RSF has reportedly begun forming an alternative political authority in parts of Sudan it occupies, in alliance with armed factions from Darfur, elements of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement–North (led by Abdelaziz al-Hilu), and several tribal and political groups. This move has raised alarms both regionally and internationally.
Key international actors, including the United Nations Security Council, the African Union, the United States, and Saudi Arabia, have publicly rejected the idea of a parallel government, warning it could further destabilize Sudan and risk territorial fragmentation.
Khartoum Cites UAE’s “Direct Role”
The Foreign Ministry argued that the UAE’s behavior confirms what it called an “organic relationship” between Abu Dhabi and the RSF, portraying the Emirati leadership as rogue actors flouting international law and diplomatic norms.
The statement referenced a recent investigation by The New York Times, which reported that RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (“Hemedti”) had been granted safe haven in the UAE. According to the report, intelligence sources monitoring communications alleged that Hemedti was in direct contact with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed, his brother Mansour bin Zayed, and a third Emirati official believed to be overseeing a network of front companies used to funnel resources to the RSF.
Continued Diplomatic Confrontation
The Foreign Ministry said the UAE’s obstructive behavior extended beyond the NAM meeting, citing similar efforts at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit in June and during sessions of the Arab League, where the Sudanese government says the UAE actively worked to block resolutions condemning RSF abuses.
Khartoum reiterated its position that the UAE bears direct responsibility for enabling war crimes and mass atrocities committed by the RSF, particularly in Darfur and central Sudan, where international observers have documented systematic violations against civilians.
“The RSF — supported and sponsored by the UAE — continues its aggression against the Sudanese people and the foundations of their national state,” the statement concluded. “It poses a direct threat to regional peace and security.”
