Sudan accuses UAE of direct role in attacks, escalating diplomatic crisis
May 8, 2025 (PORT SUDAN) – Sudan’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday accused the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of direct involvement in targeting civilians and critical infrastructure in Sudan with drones and lethal weapons, a significant escalation in already fraught relations.
The accusation follows Sudan’s recent declaration of the UAE as a “hostile state” and severing diplomatic ties with Abu Dhabi. The ministry said the move came after a series of attacks on military and civilian sites in Port Sudan, including the airport, port, and an oil facility.
In a statement seen by Sudan Tribune, the Foreign Ministry said, “The world is currently witnessing an escalation of state terrorism practiced by the Abu Dhabi regime against the Sudanese people, through its direct participation in targeting civilians, infrastructure, and vital facilities with various types of drones and lethal weapons.”
The ministry claimed this “direct participation” by the UAE came after the failure of what it termed a “proxy war” waged by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The statement described the RSF as a “hired terrorist militia” that had committed “all atrocities and violations.”
According to the Sudanese Foreign Ministry, the RSF exploited the ongoing conflict to commit grave human rights abuses, including sexual violence, mass killings, and widespread looting, before systematically targeting essential services like power and water stations and fuel depots.
Khartoum sharply criticized the UAE’s response to the severance of diplomatic ties. The Emirati Foreign Ministry had stated it did not recognise the decision, asserting it was not made by a “legitimate government” and calling for “civilian leadership independent of military authority” in Sudan.
Sudan’s Foreign Ministry described the Emirati stance as “pathetic and laughable, reflecting a bizarre disregard for international laws and norms.” The ministry added that the UAE’s statement “embodies hollow arrogance towards the Sudanese people… expressing a state of entrenched disconnect, as it preaches virtues it has never practiced.” Khartoum considered the UAE’s comments on its governance as blatant interference in its internal affairs.
Furthermore, Sudan’s Foreign Ministry dismissed any suggestions of UAE aid, asserting that “Abu Dhabi has inflicted material losses on the country many times greater than any alleged aid, and has looted citizens’ property.”