Sudan Cuts Diplomatic Ties with UAE Over Alleged Support for Paramilitary Forces.
By Caroline Ameh
Sudan has severed diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), accusing the Gulf state of supporting the rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF) amid the ongoing civil war.
The announcement was made by Sudanese Defence Minister Yassin Ibrahim on Wednesday, following three days of aerial attacks on Port Sudan—a city previously considered a safe haven in the conflict.
Speaking on Tuesday, Ibrahim accused the UAE of violating Sudanese sovereignty by backing the RSF, which has been battling government forces in a war that has devastated the country since 2023. The UAE has denied the accusations, insisting it has not provided military, financial, or political support to the RSF.
As part of the diplomatic fallout, Sudan will withdraw its ambassador from Abu Dhabi and close its diplomatic missions in the UAE.
The escalation comes as drone strikes since Sunday have targeted key infrastructure in Port Sudan, including an international airport, a power station, and a hotel. The Sudanese army has attributed the attacks to the RSF, although the paramilitary group has yet to respond. On Wednesday, the military reported it had repelled a drone assault on the nation’s largest naval base using anti-aircraft missiles.
The UAE has faced increasing international scrutiny over its alleged involvement in Sudan. Both the United Kingdom and the United States have publicly urged foreign actors, including the UAE, to stop fueling the conflict by backing armed groups.
In a related development, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Monday dismissed Sudan’s case accusing the UAE of complicity in genocide. The court ruled that the case could not proceed because the UAE had opted out of Article 9 of the Genocide Convention, which limits the ICJ’s jurisdiction over such claims between states.
Reacting to the decision, UAE Deputy Assistant Minister for Political Affairs Reem Ketait said the ruling was “clear and decisive,” and called on the global community to focus on ending the war and ensuring humanitarian assistance reaches those in need.
The civil war in Sudan, now in its second year, has killed thousands, displaced millions, and triggered what the United Nations describes as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. Both the RSF and the Sudanese army face accusations of war crimes.
