The United Arab Emirates has dismissed a decision by Sudan’s army-backed defence council to sever diplomatic ties, following accusations that the Gulf nation supplied weapons to a rival militia in Sudan's ongoing civil war.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the UAE’s foreign ministry said it does not recognise the Sudanese defence council’s declaration to cut ties, underscoring the widening rift between Khartoum and Abu Dhabi.
The announcement from Sudan’s military-aligned council came on Sunday, accusing the UAE of providing advanced and strategic weaponry to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) — a powerful paramilitary group engaged in a brutal power struggle with the army since 2023.
According to the council, the alleged arms shipments enabled the RSF to launch significant attacks, including drone strikes, on key infrastructure in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan. The city has served as a strategic stronghold for the Sudanese army, and the recent escalation marks a worrying development in the conflict.
The UAE has not directly addressed the allegations regarding weapons transfers but maintains that it supports diplomatic efforts to end hostilities in Sudan.
This latest diplomatic fallout adds another layer of complexity to a war that has displaced millions and plunged the country into a deepening humanitarian crisis.