U.S. senators urge Rubio to stop arms sales to UAE over Sudan war

August 4, 2026 (WASHINGTON) – A group of U.S. senators has called on Secretary of State Marco Rubio to halt certain American arms sales to the United Arab Emirates, citing its continued military support for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan.

In an August 3 letter led by Senator Tim Kaine, 21 lawmakers expressed alarm over an impending siege by the RSF on the Sudanese city of El Obeid. They warned that the escalating crisis threatens a repeat of mass atrocities that took place in El Fasher last October.

“While we welcome the State Department’s expression of concern about the escalating situation in El Obeid, words are not enough,” the senators wrote. “The United States must use the leverage and influence at our disposal to prevent further atrocities in El Obeid and help bring this brutal war in Sudan to an end.”

The lawmakers urged the Trump administration to take concrete action, including halting weapons sales to external actors fueling the conflict, specifically naming the UAE as the primary backer of the RSF.

An estimated 500,000 civilians are currently at risk in El Obeid, many of whom had previously fled RSF attacks across the Kordofan region.

Following recent military gains in North Kordofan state, the Sudanese army released video footage showing large stockpiles of heavy weaponry, including drones and ammunition, ahead of a planned assault on El Obeid.

The letter cited reports and intelligence pointing to UAE involvement, including findings from Human Rights Watch that the Gulf state trained Colombian mercenaries fighting alongside the RSF, as well as evidence of secret training camps in Ethiopia financed by Abu Dhabi.

Signatories to the letter included Democratic Senators Chris Van Hollen, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, and Jeff Merkley.

The lawmakers requested a formal response from the State Department regarding its plan to prevent further violence in El Obeid by August 17.

The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee will hold a hearing titled “Update on the War in Sudan” on Wednesday at 3:00 PM Washington time.

The session will be closed to the public and media access, according to the committee’s schedule.

The briefing is classified at the TS/SCI level, indicating it will cover top-secret intelligence matters involving sensitive government information.