Sudan has announced it is cutting diplomatic ties with the United Arab Emirates, accusing the Gulf state of siding with the country’s armed opposition group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), in an ongoing and devastating conflict that has gripped the nation for nearly two years.
The decision, made public by Sudanese officials this week, comes after what they describe as mounting evidence that the UAE has been arming and equipping the RSF—an influential paramilitary group with deep and controversial roots in Sudan’s history. Sudan’s leadership now considers the UAE an “aggressor state,” vowing to respond with “every means necessary” to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
This bold move marks a significant shift in Sudan’s foreign relations and signals deepening fractures in the geopolitical landscape of the Horn of Africa and the Gulf region.
Long-Simmering Tensions Boil Over
The RSF, once an officially sanctioned offshoot of the notorious Janjaweed militias active during the Darfur crisis in the early 2000s, was formally incorporated by Sudan’s government in 2013. Over time, it grew into a dominant military force—one that is now embroiled in a fierce and prolonged struggle with Sudan’s national army.
Sudan’s allegations against the UAE are not new. For years, Khartoum has expressed concerns over what it perceives as foreign meddling. But tensions escalated sharply after reports surfaced that the RSF had launched strategic attacks on infrastructure in Port Sudan using what officials say were advanced weapons allegedly supplied by the UAE.
According to sources familiar with the matter and as highlighted in a Reuters dispatch, these weapons have allowed the RSF to intensify its operations, putting enormous strain on Sudan’s already fragile security landscape.
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UAE Denies Allegations Amid Growing International Scrutiny
For its part, the UAE has flatly denied the accusations. A government statement dismissed the claims as baseless and emphasized its ongoing efforts to promote peace and diplomacy in the region. Nevertheless, international observers remain divided.
Several U.N. experts and even some U.S. lawmakers have pointed to data from human rights organizations suggesting that there may be truth to Sudan’s claims. While the most recent U.N. panel report, published in April, did not name the UAE as an arms supplier, it acknowledged the country’s involvement in peace negotiations—suggesting a more complicated role behind the scenes.
Further inflaming the situation, UAE media recently reported that it had intercepted a covert operation involving Sudanese military officials attempting to smuggle millions of rounds of ammunition into the country via a private plane. The incident, which led to several arrests, has only deepened the rift between the two nations.
A Pattern of Interference?
Beyond Sudan, the UAE has long faced scrutiny for its military activities and arms transfers across Africa. Critics argue that the Gulf nation’s support of certain governments and paramilitary groups has contributed to instability, particularly in regions already battling insurgency and weak democratic institutions.
For Sudan, the decision to cut ties with a once-powerful regional ally is as much about diplomacy as it is about survival. The country remains in the throes of a humanitarian crisis, exacerbated by ongoing conflict, economic collapse, and displacement.
As both sides dig in, the path to peace in Sudan grows even more uncertain—and the international community may be forced to reckon with the wider consequences of a diplomatic breakup that could reshape alliances far beyond the Red Sea.
