Saudi Arabia adopts tougher line on Sudan

On Thursday, the Sudan Doctors Network reported that at least 22 people were killed and eight others injured in a bombing carried out by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) that targeted Al-Kuweik Military Hospital. Among those killed were the hospital’s medical director and three other members of the medical staff.

The attack is part of a recent series of strikes attributed to the RSF that have drawn international condemnation. These include a drone strike on a World Food Programme (WFP) aid convoy, which was condemned by the United Nations and the United States, as well as by several Arab states, including Qatar and Kuwait.

Saudi Arabia, however, issued one of the strongest responses. In a statement released on Saturday, Riyadh strongly condemned what it described as “criminal attacks” by the RSF on a military hospital, a World Food Programme humanitarian convoy, and a vehicle transporting displaced civilians in Sudan’s Kordofan region, according to the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The ministry said the attacks targeted Al-Kuweik Military Hospital, a WFP-affiliated humanitarian convoy, and a vehicle carrying displaced people, resulting in the deaths of dozens of unarmed civilians, including women and children. It added that the strikes caused damage to humanitarian facilities and aid convoys in Sudan’s North and South Kordofan states.

“These acts are unjustifiable under any circumstances and constitute flagrant violations of all humanitarian norms and relevant international agreements,” the statement said.

Saudi Arabia called on the RSF to immediately halt what it described as violations and to ensure the safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance, in accordance with international humanitarian law and the Jeddah Declaration.

The kingdom also rejected what it described as foreign interference in Sudan, including the “continued supply of illicit weapons, mercenaries and foreign fighters” by unnamed parties. Such actions, it said, were a key factor in “prolonging the conflict and exacerbating the suffering of the Sudanese people.”

Saudi Arabia’s unusually forceful statement comes at a time when Riyadh appears intent on expanding its influence across the region. Issued amid strained relations with Abu Dhabi, the declaration reads less like a routine diplomatic condemnation and more like a signal that Saudi Arabia intends to reassert itself in Sudan. The timing suggests an effort to rebalance power amid heightened competition among Gulf states.

This posture reflects a broader diplomatic rift between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. That split has created space for both capitals to recalibrate their foreign policies: Riyadh appears increasingly willing to pursue a more assertive, sometimes unilateral role in regional security and political affairs, while Abu Dhabi has doubled down on its own strategic priorities. As a result, disagreements that were once managed quietly have become more visible.

A persistent point of tension in this rivalry has been allegations of support for armed groups in regional conflicts. The UAE has been repeatedly accused of providing military backing to the Rapid Support Forces and other non-state militias, claims that Abu Dhabi has consistently denied.

Against the backdrop of a growing rift between the two long-standing Gulf allies, Saudi Arabia’s statement signals renewed engagement with the Sudan conflict and a more confrontational posture toward what it sees as Abu Dhabi’s role. For observers, the episode underscores a shift in Riyadh’s approach, Saudi Arabia is “no longer content to allow the UAE to shape events on the ground,” nor to wait for “U.S.-led mediation” before acting to defend its interests.