UAE Assures US: No Arms for Sudan Paramilitaries Amid Ongoing Civil War

UAE Commits to Halting Arms Supply to Sudan’s Paramilitaries Amid Prolonged Civil War

The United States has promised the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which is under investigation in Washington, that it will not provide arms to paramilitary groups engaged in the civil war in Sudan. International attempts to address a catastrophic humanitarian disaster that has killed tens of thousands of people since April 2023 coincide with the vow.In support of these initiatives, the United States declared an extra $200 million in aid for Sudan, which continues to be one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world.

The UAE’s commitment has also led two U.S. lawmakers to drop their opposition to a $1.2 billion arms sale of advanced rockets and long-range missiles to the Gulf nation.

UAE’s Assurances and U.S. Response

Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat, disclosed a White House letter affirming the UAE’s assurance to cease arms transfers to Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Despite previous allegations of UAE involvement, the letter, signed by White House Middle East coordinator Brett McGurk, emphasized that the UAE is neither currently transferring weapons to the RSF nor intends to do so in the future.

Additionally, McGurk promised to deliver an evaluation of these guarantees by January 17 in advance of a possible shift in the U.S. government. Senator Van Hollen praised the UAE’s pledge but cautioned that if the pledge is not kept, he will reexamine his opposition to the arms transaction.

Rep. Sara Jacobs, who led similar efforts in the House, emphasized that reducing UAE assistance for the RSF may make the paramilitary force much weaker, which would increase pressure for peace talks and a possible ceasefire.

Historical Allegations and Arms Sales

The RSF, now controlling large parts of Sudan, has been accused of receiving weapons through UAE-linked channels in Chad. These allegations were deemed credible by UN experts monitoring an arms embargo on Sudan’s Darfur region.

In the past, the UAE and the RSF remained close while working together to combat the Houthi rebels in Yemen. The UAE has, however, consistently refuted claims that it armed the RSF.

Advanced weapons like F-35 jets are part of the arms contract with the United Arab Emirates, which was first pushed by former US President Donald Trump as part of the Abraham Accords. The agreement was postponed under President Joe Biden, who pledged to increase regulation of arms sales.

Growing Humanitarian Emergency

The humanitarian crisis in Sudan is getting worse as the country continues to spiral into turmoil. In order to survive, some people are turning to eating grass and peanut shells, according to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who provided $200 million in help.

“The world cannot — must not — look away from the humanitarian catastrophe happening in Sudan,” Blinken stated at a UN Security Council meeting. He called for international action against external actors exacerbating the conflict.

With 1.7 million people at risk of starvation, the World Food Program has warned that Sudan may experience the worst food crisis in recent memory. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, $4.2 billion will be needed to address Sudan’s humanitarian needs in the upcoming year.

Dynamics of Control and Conflict

The RSF is in charge of a large portion of central Sudan, the bordering Kordofan, and the Darfur region. The regular army, on the other hand, continues to rule the east and north. There are still fighting going on between the two factions in the city, Khartoum, and the surrounding areas.

The UAE’s recent commitments and the additional U.S. aid represent cautious steps toward alleviating the crisis, but the road to stability in Sudan remains fraught with challenges.