UAE, Sudan trade accusations over weapons transfer amid rising tensions

KHARTOUM, Sudan / ISTANBUL

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Sudan exchanged accusations about arms transfer on Wednesday as tensions continued to rise between the two countries.

Emirati Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said security agencies foiled an attempt to “illegally” transfer weapons and military equipment to the Sudanese army, according to the state news agency WAM.

He said a number of cell members were arrested on accusations of unauthorized mediation, brokering, and illicit trafficking of military equipment.

The Sudanese government, for its part, denied the accusation, calling it an attempt by Abu Dhabi to evade responsibility and cover up its support for the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

“The Sudanese government pays no attention to these fabricated allegations,” government spokesman Khalid Ali said on his official X account.

In March, Sudan filed a lawsuit at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) accusing the UAE of “complicity in the commission of genocide” by arming the RSF.

The Hague-based court said that it will issue its ruling in the case on May 5.

Since April 15, 2023, the RSF has been battling the Sudanese army for control of the country, resulting in thousands of deaths and one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

More than 20,000 people have been killed so far, and 15 million others displaced, according to the UN and local authorities.

Research from US scholars, however, estimates the death toll at around 130,000.