Since 2023, the ongoing power struggle for control of Sudan between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has caused distress to millions across Sudan. Currently, the RSF is in control of many territories across Sudan and utilizes military brutality to consolidate power. However, the RSF’s success can be largely attributed to its substantial access to external resources, including smuggled weaponry supplied by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Although the United Arab Emirates’ support for rebel forces in Sudan may initially appear arbitrary to the public eye, the two countries have shared diplomatic relations for years and the UAE’s involvement is driven by several strategic and economic motivations, foremost among them being gold. The RSF plays a central role in Sudan’s gold trade, from which the UAE significantly benefits. As of 2022, the UAE imported close to two billion dollars’ worth of gold, much of which originates from Sudan. Smuggling routes through neighboring countries such as Chad and Egypt facilitate this trade, with the gold ultimately ending up in the UAE. This mutually beneficial relationship between the RSF and UAE has ensured that the UAE will back Sudan, so long as the flow of gold remains uninterrupted.
The second motivation relates to Sudan’s agricultural sector. Since the early 2000s, Gulf nations have invested heavily in Sudan’s agriculture with the goal of transforming the country into a key supplier capable of sustaining the Arab world’s food needs. Since then, 60% of Sudan’s exports are agricultural products, and the UAE relies on these exports to help feed its population. However, since the onset of the conflict, the Sudanese government has restricted agricultural exports to the UAE, straining bilateral relations and promoting the UAE to increase its support for the RSF in retaliation.
Finally, Sudan’s geographic proximity to the Red Sea represents another key motivation for the UAE’s involvement. The Red Sea serves as a vital corridor for African trade, and securing access to ports along its coast would strengthen the UAE’s strategic and commercial influence in the region. As previously noted, this also reflects the UAE’s effort to maintain a dominant position over Sudan’s agricultural sector in order to secure a stable food supply for its citizens.
As a result of these actions, the international community has expressed growing disapproval of the UAE’s involvement in Sudan. The Sudanese government has filed a case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing the UAE of supporting and being complicit in the genocide against Sudanese civilians. Although the UAE has dismissed these allegations as part of a disinformation campaign, the United States found Sudan’s allegations to be credible.
By supporting the RSF’s aggressive war efforts, the UAE is not only complicit in furthering the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, but is risking their own political prosperity in the face of western countries and their ability to be trusted as a global leader.
Firstly, by maintaining its current course of action, the UAE is damaging its relationship with the United States and other Western powers. Under the Biden administration, sanctions were imposed on seven UAE-companies affiliated with the RSF. If the UAE did not have gold laundering to fall back onto, this could have been a more detrimental blow to the UAE’s economy. Members of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee are currently pursuing legislation such as H.R. 10268—the U.S. Engagement in Sudanese Peace Act—which seeks to provide aid to the Sudanese people and formally recognize the UAE as an actor in this conflict. Until the UAE withdraws its involvement, it is likely to continue facing condemnation from Western nations.
Not only is the UAE risking its relationship with the United States, but it is also straining ties with the Sudanese government. While the UAE’s partnership with the RSF continues to flourish, its relations with the Sudanese government have deteriorated. Moreover, the Sudanese government has accused the UAE of genocide and is making it known to the public that would like to cut diplomatic ties between the two countries, which could restrict the UAE’s access to the resources it seeks. Sudan’s defense minister, Yassin Ibrahim, has even described the UAE as an RSF “proxy.” Their reason for this move came as many humanitarian organizations working out of Port Sudan said the aid that was meant for civilians was attacked and bombarded with military artery, which poses a great risk to those facilitating aid as well as civilians who rely on this aid. The Sudanese government is now at its breaking point and does not want a future with the UAE.
Finally, the UAE risks being perceived as a nation that collaborates with rebel forces and facilitates acts of genocide for its own strategic benefit. Although the ICJ has not advanced Sudan’s accusations, primarily because the ICJ has certain limits and provisions on what cases are presented, there is substantial proof linking the UAE to the RSF’s acquisition of arms. The UAE reportedly provided Chinese weaponry to the RSF, which was intercepted by the Sudanese government, and in violation of the current UN arms embargo that has been in place since 2004. Organizations such as Amnesty International have compiled images and other evidence linking the weapons used by the RSF to machine artillery manufactured in China. By linking China to this arms trade, it opens more facets of this conflict and makes it more difficult for the RSF to be stopped and for civilian deaths to stop as well.
No country should be trading arms with the UAE. The UAE’s provision of arms to the RSF has contributed to the deaths, displacement, and starvation of millions. Sudan is currently experiencing the largest humanitarian crisis in the world, and as long as the RSF maintains links to wealthier nations like the UAE, it can continue to flourish. However, this flourishing comes at the expense of innocent Sudanese civilians.
Sources
Civil War in Sudan | Global Conflict Tracker. (2025). https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/power-struggle-sudan
Kennedy, N., Ebrahim, N., Saifi, Z., & Schmitz, A. (2025). Sudan accuses UAE of “support and complicity” in genocide at World Court. https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/10/middleeast/uae-sudan-genocide-case-icj-hearing-intl/index.html?utm
Khansa, M. (2025). Five reasons why the UAE is fixated on Sudan. https://peoplesdispatch.org/2025/07/27/five-reasons-why-the-uae-is-fixated-on-sudan/
Prendergast, J., & Lake, A. (2025). The UAE’s Secret War in Sudan. https://www.foreignaffairs.com/sudan/uaes-secret-war-sudan?check_logged_in=1
Ahmed, A. (2021). Port Sudan caught in the international race to control the Red Sea region. https://www.cmi.no/publications/7824-port-sudan-caught-in-the-international-race-to-control-the-red-sea-region
McManus, A., Griffin, A., Mandala, S., .(2025). How Congress Can Help Curb the UAE’s Role in Sudan’s Crisis https://www.americanprogress.org/article/how-congress-can-help-curb-the-uaes-role-in-sudans-crisis/?utm
Sudan to cut ties with United Arab Emirates over alleged RSF support. (2025). https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/06/sudan-to-cut-ties-with-united-arab-emirates-over-alleged-rsf-
Sudan: Advanced Chinese weaponry provided by UAE identified in breach of arms embargo – new investigation. (2025). https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2025/05/sudan-advanced-chinese-weaponry-provided-by-uae-identified-in-breach-of-arms-embargo-new-investigation/?utm_source
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