Sudan Accuses UAE of Arming Rebels as UN Security Council Debates

Sudan’s UN ambassador accused the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of supplying weapons to anti-government rebels at a Security Council meeting on Tuesday, a claim the Gulf nation categorically denied.

Speaking directly to the Emirati representative, Sudanese Ambassador Al-Harith Mohamed alleged that the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have conducted their violent campaign using arms supplied by the UAE.

Former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir formed the RSF from Janjaweed fighters, and the group has faced accusations of war crimes for its attacks on non-Arab ethnic minorities in Darfur.

Mohamed added that Sudan plans to file a complaint against the UAE with the International Criminal Court.

The UAE’s ambassador, Mohamed Abushahab, denied the allegations and instead blamed the Sudanese government for refusing to hold peace talks and reach a settlement.

According to UN estimates, fighting in Sudan has killed over 14,000 people and displaced another 9 million in the 14 months since the war began.

El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state and home to some 800,000 people, is currently under siege by RSF forces. Last Thursday, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution calling for the paramilitary group to halt its attack immediately.