Sudan accuses UAE of undermining sovereignty amid aid row

August 7, 2024 (PORT SUDAN) – The Sudanese government launched a scathing attack on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Wednesday, accusing it of undermining Sudan’s sovereignty by advocating for the delivery of humanitarian aid across conflict lines without the nation’s consent.

This escalation in tensions follows a call by the UAE’s foreign ministry on Tuesday for the UN Security Council to authorise the delivery of aid across frontlines and borders to address the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Sudan. The Sudanese foreign ministry retorted that this amounted to a violation of Sudan’s sovereignty.

The Sudanese government has long accused the UAE of fuelling the conflict by supplying arms to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group battling the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). It claims to have presented evidence of this to the Security Council.

In a strongly worded statement, the Sudanese foreign ministry challenged the UAE’s sincerity in expressing concern for the Sudanese people, stating: “If the UAE is truly concerned about the blood and safety of Sudanese citizens, it should cease providing the militia with weapons used to kill our people and deprive them of food and aid. Only then will peace be achieved and humanitarian suffering alleviated.”

Sudan further questioned the UAE’s motives in welcoming the Security Council’s involvement, asking whether it would consent to an investigation into Sudan’s allegations of the UAE’s role in the conflict, including claims of ethnic cleansing and starvation tactics.

The statement also called on the UAE to disclose the amount of Emirati public funds spent on the war in Sudan and the extent of its humanitarian aid contributions.

This diplomatic spat adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing conflict in Sudan, raising questions about the role of external actors in the humanitarian crisis and hindering efforts to find a peaceful resolution.

It also complicates U.S. efforts to involve the UAE in resolving the ongoing war in Sudan, a prospect the military leaders strongly oppose.

Adding fuel to the fire, Sudan’s representative to the UN, Al-Harith Idris, accused unnamed countries and international organizations of using the “Adre” border crossing with Chad to smuggle weapons and fuel to the RSF under the guise of humanitarian work.