A coalition of Sudanese political parties has come out strongly against the inclusion of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in U.S.-hosted peace talks scheduled for July 29 in Washington, citing alleged arms support to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The coalition, which comprises nationalist and Islamist factions, released a joint statement declaring the UAE “morally unqualified” to act as a mediator.
According to the statement, the Gulf state is “the main party supporting the militias,” referring directly to the RSF, which has been locked in a brutal civil war with Sudan’s army since April 2023. Their stance echoes that of Sudan’s army-led government, which has also accused the UAE of arming and financing the RSF.
The upcoming peace talks are expected to bring together the United States, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, Britain, and Qatar. However, the coalition of political parties is calling for a homegrown resolution to the conflict, stressing that “any lasting solution must come from an inclusive Sudanese-Sudanese dialogue.” They further warned against “negative foreign interventions,” which they claim threaten the sovereignty of the Sudanese people.
As the conflict in Sudan continues to devastate the country, international scrutiny has grown around the UAE’s suspected support for the RSF, a group repeatedly accused of committing atrocities in Darfur and other regions.
Investigations Reveal Arms Flow From UAE
Multiple investigations conducted by international human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have traced advanced weaponry found in RSF’s hands back to the UAE. Among these weapons are Chinese-manufactured GB50A guided bombs and 155mm AH-4 howitzers, produced by Norinco Group. These sophisticated arms were observed in video and photographic evidence from battles in Khartoum and Darfur.
Amnesty International concluded that the guided bombs had never previously appeared in any documented conflict, making their presence in Sudan particularly alarming. Public records confirm that the UAE is a primary international purchaser of these specific howitzers. The most likely explanation, according to arms experts, is that the weapons were re-exported by the UAE, a violation of existing United Nations arms embargoes on Sudan.
Further reports by Sudanese officials and United Nations agencies suggest that arms and military vehicles traced to Emirati origins have been found in RSF-controlled areas. Evidence includes trucks with Dubai license plates and heavy munitions bearing Emirati labels.
Intelligence has also pointed to a series of around 400 suspicious flights landing in neighboring Chad, allegedly transporting arms and supplies intended for RSF fighters across the Sudanese border.
UAE Denies Involvement Amid Diplomatic Break
In response to the growing allegations, the UAE has categorically denied supplying arms or offering financial support to any faction in Sudan. Despite this, Sudan’s government has gone so far as to sever diplomatic ties with Abu Dhabi in 2025, accusing the Gulf state of “providing not just military, but also logistical, financial, and diplomatic support to the RSF.”
Evidence submitted by Sudan to the United Nations Security Council includes images of seized munitions allegedly marked with UAE identifiers and reports of injured RSF fighters receiving medical treatment at Sheikh Zayed Hospital, an Emirati-run facility.
The controversy has sparked diplomatic fallout and raised concerns among international actors ahead of the Washington peace talks. While the U.S. and other stakeholders hope to move forward with negotiations, Sudan’s internal political bloc has made it clear that any dialogue including the UAE risks undermining the legitimacy and neutrality of the process.
With Sudan’s civil war showing no signs of abating, and international pressure mounting, the credibility of external mediators has become as contested as the conflict itself. Whether the upcoming talks will deliver progress remains uncertain, especially as trust erodes over the alleged flow of arms fueling the violence.
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