UAE Admits Mistakes in Sudan Policy, Cites Support for RSF

The United Arab Emirates has, for the first time, acknowledged errors in its approach to Sudan, stemming from its support for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group implicated in widespread violence, particularly in El Fasher.

Speaking in Bahrain yesterday, Anwar Gargash, the UAE’s senior diplomatic envoy, stated that the UAE and other nations erred in not imposing sanctions on those responsible for the 2021 coup that ousted Sudan’s civilian transitional government. “We all made a mistake when the two generals who are fighting the civil war today overthrew the civilian government,” Gargash said. “That was, looking back, a critical mistake. We should have put our foot down collectively. We did not call it a coup.” This admission comes as international scrutiny intensifies over the UAE’s role in fueling the ongoing conflict, which has created a dire humanitarian crisis and threatens regional stability.

Throughout 2019, the UAE, alongside Saudi Arabia, attempted to bolster the military’s influence and diminish civilian governance following the removal of Omar al-Bashir, even promoting RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, for a key economic role. A $3 billion loan was provided to the transitional military council, with disbursements halted when the civilian government gained prominence. Experts like Jonas Horner of the European Council on Foreign Relations have argued that the suspension of this funding directly contributed to the 2021 coup and the subsequent civil war. The UAE’s financial involvement in Sudan highlights the complex geopolitical dynamics at play in the region, as detailed in reports by the Chatham House.

While the UAE has condemned atrocities in El Fasher, it has also attributed blame to the Sudanese army’s unwillingness to compromise. The country maintains it seeks a return to civilian rule and asserts it is not the primary instigator of the conflict, but rather a neutral mediator. However, evidence compiled by the UN and independent observers suggests covert Emirati arming of the RSF, a claim the UAE denies. The Biden administration imposed sanctions on Hemedti and several UAE-based companies allegedly funding him in January, further escalating tensions. The ongoing conflict has displaced millions and created a severe food security crisis, as reported by Human Rights Watch.

Talks aimed at establishing a three-month humanitarian truce and a path towards a civilian-led government, involving the US, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the UAE, have yet to yield substantial results, suggesting further diplomatic efforts and potentially increased pressure on all parties will be necessary to resolve the crisis.