UAE Expanding Influence in Sudan Conflict and Support for RSF

The ongoing civil war in Sudan, which began in April 2023, pits the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Reports suggest the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has increased its support for the RSF, providing arms and other aid, though the UAE denies these claims. This involvement appears tied to economic interests like gold mining, but it has drawn criticism for fueling atrocities and a humanitarian crisis. While evidence points to UAE backing, the situation is complex with multiple foreign actors involved, and peace efforts remain stalled.

Key Points

• War Origins: The conflict stems from a power struggle between SAF leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), following failed transitions to civilian rule after the 2019 ouster of Omar al-Bashir.
• UAE’s Alleged Support: Research indicates the UAE has supplied weapons, including Chinese-made drones, to the RSF since at least 2023, potentially to secure access to Sudan’s resources; however, this is contested and has led to calls for investigations.
• Humanitarian Impact: Over 150,000 people may have died, with millions displaced and facing famine; accusations of genocide against the RSF highlight the war’s brutality, though both sides face blame.
• Controversy and Uncertainty: While many sources link the UAE to RSF arms, the UAE maintains it provides only humanitarian aid, underscoring the need for balanced views amid geopolitical tensions.
• Path Forward: International pressure, including UN sanctions, aims to curb foreign meddling, but divisions among global powers complicate resolution.

Background on the Conflict

Sudan’s civil war erupted on April 15, 2023, when clashes broke out in Khartoum between the SAF and RSF over integrating the paramilitary group into the national army. This followed years of instability, including coups and regional conflicts like the Darfur genocide in the early 2000s. The RSF, rooted in the Janjaweed militias, has been accused of ethnic cleansing, while the SAF represents the established military. The war has spread across the country, with control divided: the SAF holds much of the east and north, while the RSF dominates Darfur and parts of the west.

Recent Developments in UAE Support

Evidence from U.S. intelligence and reports shows the UAE ramping up arms deliveries to the RSF, including drones and artillery, especially after March 2025. This has helped the RSF capture key areas like El Fasher, but it’s sparked outrage over alleged complicity in atrocities. On social media, users have shared videos and claims of UAE-backed RSF actions, amplifying calls for accountability. Still, the UAE insists its role is humanitarian, providing aid to affected populations.

Humanitarian and Global Implications

The crisis has displaced over 12 million people and led to famine in Darfur, with aid efforts hampered by fighting. Both sides have been accused of war crimes, but the RSF’s actions in ethnic regions draw particular concern. Globally, this highlights how foreign support prolongs conflicts, with the U.S. and UK probing arms flows via the UAE. Efforts like UN talks offer hope, but without addressing external backing, peace seems distant.

For more details, see the full exploration below.

The civil war in Sudan, ongoing since April 2023, represents a tragic escalation of long-standing political and ethnic tensions, now compounded by foreign interventions. At its core is a rivalry between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), commanded by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, commonly known as Hemedti. This conflict has not only devastated Sudan’s infrastructure and economy but has also drawn in external powers, with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) facing persistent allegations of providing increasing military support to the RSF. While the UAE denies direct involvement in arming the group and emphasizes its humanitarian efforts, multiple intelligence reports, investigative journalism, and international organizations suggest otherwise. This blog post delves into the background of the war, the specifics of UAE’s alleged support, recent developments, the humanitarian toll, and the broader international response, drawing on a range of sources to present a balanced view.

The Roots of Sudan’s Civil War

Sudan’s history is marked by cycles of conflict, authoritarianism, and fragile transitions. Independence from Anglo-Egyptian rule in 1956 exposed deep divides between the Arab-Muslim north and the Christian and animist south, leading to two civil wars: the first from 1955 to 1972, which killed around 500,000 people, and the second from 1983 to 2005, claiming two million lives and culminating in South Sudan’s secession in 2011. The Darfur region in the west became a flashpoint in 2003, where government-backed Janjaweed militias—precursors to the RSF—were accused of genocide against non-Arab populations, displacing millions and prompting International Criminal Court (ICC) charges against former President Omar al-Bashir.

Bashir’s 30-year rule ended in 2019 amid mass protests, leading to a military coup by the SAF and RSF. A transitional power-sharing agreement aimed at civilian rule collapsed in a 2021 coup, leaving Burhan and Hemedti in control. Tensions boiled over in 2023 when disagreements arose over integrating the RSF’s 100,000 fighters into the SAF, including timelines and leadership. Fighting erupted on April 15, 2023, in Khartoum, quickly spreading to Darfur, Kordofan, and other regions. The SAF, with about 120,000 troops, relies on air power and alliances with groups like the Darfur Joint Protection Force, while the RSF, with similar numbers, excels in ground mobility and has roots in gold-rich Darfur.

The war’s timeline includes key milestones:

• April–June 2023: Initial clashes in Khartoum; RSF seizes the airport and broadcaster; failed ceasefires in Jeddah.
• July–December 2023: RSF advances in Darfur, capturing Nyala and Geneina amid massacres; SAF relocates to Port Sudan.
• 2024: SAF counteroffensives reclaim Omdurman and parts of Khartoum; RSF sieges El Fasher, leading to famine.
• 2025: SAF retakes Khartoum in March; RSF captures El Fasher in October after a 500-day siege, marking control over all Darfur.

Phase	Key Events	Territorial Changes
Prelude (Pre-2023)	Tensions over RSF integration; 2021 coup.	None significant.
Early War (Apr–Sep 2023)	Clashes in Khartoum; RSF takes Darfur cities.	RSF controls much of Darfur; SAF holds east.
Mid-War (Oct 2023–Dec 2024)	RSF seizes Wad Madani; SAF recaptures Omdurman.	RSF expands in Kordofan and Gezira; famine declared.
Recent (2025)	SAF retakes Khartoum; RSF captures El Fasher.	RSF dominates west; SAF in north/east.

This division risks another national split, similar to South Sudan’s independence, with economic stakes like oil and gold at play.

UAE’s Involvement: Allegations and Evidence

The UAE’s role has been one of the most contentious aspects of the war. U.S. intelligence reports indicate the UAE has funneled arms to the RSF since 2023, including Chinese-made Rainbow drones (e.g., CH-95 models for precision strikes), small arms, artillery, mortars, and vehicles. Supplies reportedly increased after March 2025, routed through Libya, Chad, Uganda, and Somalia, with Amdjarass airport in Chad serving as a hub. Motivations appear economic: the RSF controls gold mines, smuggling the metal via Dubai, which handles much of Sudan’s gold exports. The UAE also seeks to counter Islamist influences in the SAF and expand regional clout.

Evidence includes:

• Satellite imagery of Emirati cargo planes delivering “aid” that included weapons.
• Amnesty International documenting UAE-supplied Chinese bombs and howitzers in Darfur.
• UN dossiers showing UK and U.S. arms, exported to the UAE, ending up with the RSF.

On social media, posts from users like saroyahx and SpiritofLenin highlight UAE-RSF ties, sharing images of arms and calling for boycotts. However, the UAE denies military support, stating it provides only humanitarian aid through the Red Crescent and has hosted peace conferences. Critics argue this is a cover, with hospitals allegedly used for drone operations.

Other foreign actors include Egypt and Saudi Arabia backing the SAF, Iran supplying drones to both, and Russia’s Wagner Group aiding the RSF initially. This web of involvement has prolonged the war, with the UAE’s actions drawing particular scrutiny from the U.S., UK, and EU.

Recent Developments and RSF Advances

As of October 2025, the RSF’s capture of El Fasher—after a brutal siege—marks a turning point, ceding Darfur to the group and sparking reports of mass killings. U.S. intelligence notes stepped-up UAE supplies, including new drones used in strikes on Port Sudan. Social media buzzed with footage of RSF atrocities, with users like TheGriftReport reporting over 2,000 executions in days. Hemedti promised investigations, but skepticism abounds.

The SAF has withdrawn from key strongholds, but counteroffensives continue. Peace talks in Jeddah and elsewhere have failed, with both sides unwilling to compromise.

Foreign Actor	Alleged Support	Beneficiary	Source
UAE	Drones, arms, logistics	RSF	WSJ, Amnesty
Egypt	Fighter jets, pilots	SAF	BBC
Iran	Drones	Both	Wikipedia
Russia (Wagner)	Missiles, mercenaries	RSF initially	CFR

The Humanitarian Catastrophe

The war has created the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, with estimates of 150,000–200,000 deaths from violence, starvation, and disease. Over 12 million are displaced, including 8.8 million internally and 3.5 million refugees, marking the largest child displacement crisis. Famine grips North Darfur, with 25 million facing acute hunger; aid looting and sieges exacerbate this.

War crimes abound: the RSF is accused of genocide in Darfur, including massacres of Masalit people (over 10,000 killed), sexual violence, and ethnic cleansing. Both sides have targeted civilians, looted aid, and attacked healthcare—80% of hospitals in conflict zones are closed. Disease outbreaks like cholera have killed thousands.

International Response and Calls for Action

The UN has labeled the crisis “woefully inadequate” in global attention, with leaders like WHO’s Tedros noting potential racial biases in coverage. Sanctions target RSF and SAF leaders; the U.S. determined RSF genocide in January 2025. Sudan has expelled UAE diplomats and filed ICC complaints.

Groups like Amnesty and Human Rights Watch call for arms embargoes on the UAE. On X, campaigns like #Boycott_Emirates gain traction. Yet, diplomatic efforts remain lackluster, with IGAD and AU mediations failing.

In counterpoint, some sources emphasize the UAE’s aid contributions, hosting conferences and delivering food. Balancing these views is crucial, as unsubstantiated claims can hinder peace.

This conflict underscores how foreign interests—economic, strategic—perpetuate suffering. Ending it requires halting arms flows, enforcing ceasefires, and supporting civilian-led talks. For updates, follow reliable sources like the BBC or CFR.

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