In a stern rebuttal issued on Thursday, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has categorically denied allegations of its involvement in the ongoing conflict in Sudan, labeling the claims as “outright fabrications” and “mischaracterisations.” The denial was made in response to a letter sent by Sudan’s representative to the United Nations on June 10, which alleged the discovery of Emirati passports “on the battlefield” among other accusations.
The UAE’s statement to the UN Security Council highlighted significant loopholes in the Sudanese argument, clarifying that the images provided did not show actual passports. “Rather, they are photographs of scans or photocopies of the data pages of six passports, some of which are clearly expired, and some of which are passports from another country,” the statement read.
Defamatory Allegations
The UAE further emphasized that the four Emiratis named in the allegations had traveled to Sudan long before the conflict erupted. According to the statement, these individuals were welcomed by Sudanese authorities for their charitable work and efforts to foster business ties between the two nations. The UAE nationals involved consider the allegations defamatory and are reserving the right to take legal action. Additionally, the UAE pointed out the implausibility of the passports being found on the battlefield, as the individuals in question still possess their respective passports.
Misleading Evidence
The Sudanese envoy also claimed that phones bearing the “Etisalat” logo and markings were found, implying a connection to the UAE. However, the UAE dismissed these claims, stating that the phones in question were obsolete civilian models, no longer in production, with outdated logos dating back to before the year 2000.
Allegations of Arms Supply
Since the Sudanese civil war took center stage at the UN, accusations have surfaced alleging that the UAE is supplying weapons and support to a rival faction in Sudan’s 14-month conflict. The UAE has repeatedly denied these allegations, describing them as part of a “duplicitous media disinformation campaign” by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). The UAE asserted that the images shared by the Sudanese representative contradict his claims, adding that prior to the conflict, the UAE had provided military assistance to Sudan at the request of its government. This assistance included the delivery of 30 unarmed armored vehicles, which were received by Sudan’s Ministry of Defence two months before the conflict began.
Continued Support for Sudan
Despite the tensions, the UAE reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Sudanese people and pursuing a peaceful resolution to the conflict. The UAE has established two field hospitals near the Chad-Sudan border and pledged $70 million in aid, supplementing the initial $130-million humanitarian package provided since April 2023. The UAE also called for an immediate ceasefire and urged the warring parties to join the Jeddah talks process to negotiate a path towards a representative, civilian-led government.
Humanitarian Crisis
The conflict, which erupted in April last year between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) over a transition to free elections, has created a dire humanitarian crisis. According to the UN, nearly 25 million people, half of Sudan’s population, require aid, with famine looming and approximately eight million people displaced from their homes.
The UAE’s statement concluded with a call for an end to the hostilities, emphasizing that “there is no military solution to this conflict. The war has to end.”