UAE UN ENVOY DENIES FUNDING WAR IN SUDAN

A United Nations Security Council session on 18th June turned into a war of words between the envoys of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Sudan.

The fiery exchange started after Sudan's envoy accused the UAE of aggravating the 14-month conflict in the African nation. Al-Harith Idriss al-Harith Mohamed detailed how the UAE has allegedly been providing funding, weapons and other forms of support to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary, which has been at war with the Sudanese Army since April 2023.

He also requested that the Security Council make public the materials that Sudan has submitted to the UN as evidence to show Abu Dhabi supports, and is complicit in the atrocities committed by, the RSF.

The UAE’s envoy, who was seated right next to the Sudanese representative, reacted angrily to the latter's accusations, describing them as “ludicrous.” Mohamed Issa Abushahab claimed that Sudan's statements are an attempt to distract the world from “grave violations that are happening on the ground.” He also accused the Sudanese government and military of blocking humanitarian aid from reaching areas under its control. He further accused Khartoum of not being genuinely interested in ending the war, but only in 'grandstanding.'

Despite the UAE's denial, there is mounting evidence of Abu Dhabi’s support for the RSF, which several organisations, including the UN and Human Rights Watch, have accused of committing crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing. In January, UN monitors said there was 'credible' evidence that the UAE is sending weapons to the RSF through Chad.

The civil war has left about half of Sudan’s 49-million people in need of aid, and more than 10 million have been displaced from their homes, according to the latest figures from the UN. More than 15,000 have been confirmed killed in the conflict, but the real number of dead is feared to be much higher.