Sudan accuses UAE of supporting paramilitaries, welcomes Turkish mediation

December 29, 2024 (PORT SUDAN) – Sudan accused the United Arab Emirates on Saturday of supporting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group, which it labelled “terrorists”, and welcomed Turkey’s offer to mediate in the conflict.

The Sudanese Foreign Ministry statement came in response to a UAE Foreign Ministry announcement welcoming Turkey’s diplomatic efforts to find a solution to the ongoing crisis.

The UAE said it was ready to cooperate with Turkey and all diplomatic efforts to end the conflict and find a comprehensive solution to the crisis. It stressed the importance of negotiation to end the conflict and ensure a political process and national consensus toward a civilian-led government.

Sudan has filed a complaint with the UN Security Council against the UAE, alleging it provided weapons and military equipment to the RSF through Chad. A similar complaint was lodged with the African Union.

The Sudanese Foreign Ministry said the UAE’s claims of working towards peace in Sudan were “hollow and false” and accused it of escalating the conflict by supplying the RSF with weapons and mercenaries.

“What is required is for the UAE to stop supplying the militia with weapons and mercenaries and to direct it to lay down its arms, and then peace will be achieved,” the statement said.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan offered to mediate in the conflict during a Dec. 13 phone call with the head of Sudan’s ruling council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.

The Sudanese army has refused to engage in any new negotiations with the RSF until the terms of the Jeddah Declaration signed by the two sides on May 11, 2023, are implemented, particularly the withdrawal from civilian areas.