Sudan rejects UAE-AU statement on war

This week, UAE Minister of State Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan held separate meetings with Ethiopia’s foreign minister and African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf as part of renewed diplomatic engagement on the conflict in Sudan.

In a joint statement following his meeting with Ethiopia’s foreign minister, both sides called for a ceasefire and a cessation of hostilities between what they described as the “warring parties” in Sudan.

A similar message was reflected in a joint statement issued by the AUC chair and the UAE Minister of State. The statement said both sides “underscored the need for an immediate, unconditional humanitarian truce, a permanent ceasefire, unhindered humanitarian access throughout Sudan, accountability for violations of international humanitarian law, and the establishment of an independent, civilian-led government reflecting the aspirations of the Sudanese people.” It also noted that both sides “condemned atrocities committed against civilians by the warring parties.”

The language has angered Sudan’s military-led government, which has consistently rejected international framing that places the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) on equal footing with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the paramilitary group it has been fighting since April 2023. The SAF leadership has sought to maintain international backing by portraying the conflict as a war against an insurgent militia rather than a struggle between rival factions.

In a statement issued on January 7, Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it “notes the repeated reference in this statement to allegations that the Government of Sudan is targeting its own people and intimidating the international community.” The ministry added that it “categorically rejects this characterization, as it is inconsistent with reality and ignores the atrocities committed by the militia on multiple occasions.”

The ministry went on to accuse the African Union of failing to address crimes committed by what it described as a “rebellious militia,” saying the AU had “ignored the repeated massacres against the Sudanese people and the continued occupation of public and private facilities.” It further said the AU had “failed to note the documented violations committed by this militia in Darfur and other regions, despite clear evidence proving its role in fueling conflict and threatening regional peace and security.”

“The government rejects any initiative that seeks to equate the state with a rebellious militia that commits terrorist acts and repeats the same violations mentioned in the Commission’s statement,” the foreign ministry said, concluding that “the African Union will find no path forward unless it deals fairly with the Government and people of Sudan.”

The statement comes amid a growing rift between Sudan’s authorities and the United Arab Emirates. Sudanese officials have repeatedly accused the UAE of backing the RSF, allegations that Abu Dhabi has denied. Khartoum has argued that calls by the UAE and other international actors to sideline both “warring parties” amount to equating the national army with the RSF, a position the government considers “unacceptable.”

Investigative reporting has increasingly placed the UAE at the center of international scrutiny over the Sudan conflict. Multiple reports have alleged that the UAE supplied weapons to the RSF through neighboring Chad, despite Emirati denials. These reports have highlighted cargo flights from the UAE to eastern Chad that allegedly carried arms later transferred to RSF forces inside Sudan.

In October 2025, Middle East Eye reported that U.S. intelligence assessments suggested the UAE had supplied the RSF with Chinese-made drones and other weapons systems. Another investigation published in November 2025 alleged that Emirati military bases were used to facilitate arms transfers to the RSF, even as U.S. forces relied on those same bases for operations in Somalia.

The investigative group The Sentry has also documented alleged financial and logistical links between the RSF and the UAE. In an October 2025 report, The Sentry identified RSF-linked companies operating in Dubai — including gold traders, jewelers, and consulting firms — as part of the paramilitary group’s financing network. In November 2025, The Sentry issued an alert tracing Colombian mercenaries fighting for the RSF to a businessman reportedly connected to a senior Emirati officials.

The latest statements from the UAE, alongside Ethiopia and the AU, reflect their position over the past two years. They have consistently accused the “warring parties” while denying any involvement in the Sudan conflict. The Sudanese military government, led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has remained locked in confrontation with the UAE and views its statements as equating the SAF and RSF.