Sudan Severs Diplomatic Ties with UAE Over Alleged Support for Paramilitary RSF

 Khartoum, May 7 — In a significant escalation of regional tensions, Sudan’s Security and Defence Council has formally announced the severance of diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates, citing the UAE's alleged support for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group engaged in ongoing conflict with the Sudanese Armed Forces since April 2023.

In a televised address on Tuesday, Sudanese Defence Minister Yassin Ibrahim declared that Sudan was withdrawing its ambassador from Abu Dhabi, accusing the Gulf nation of violating Sudan’s sovereignty through its purported proxy role in the conflict. “Sudan is severing diplomatic relations with the UAE,” he stated, directly attributing the move to the Emirates’ alleged involvement in aiding the RSF.

The UAE has consistently denied supplying arms or material support to the RSF. On Monday, it successfully blocked an attempt to bring Sudan’s allegations before the International Court of Justice in The Hague. The ICJ ruled it could not hear the case due to a legal reservation the UAE had placed under the Genocide Convention, limiting the Court’s jurisdiction.

The diplomatic fallout unfolds as a coalition of humanitarian organizations operating in Sudan voiced alarm over a series of targeted attacks on critical infrastructure in Port Sudan—a vital hub for aid delivery and humanitarian operations. Since May 4, multiple drone and missile strikes have hit the international airport, fuel depots, the maritime port, and various civilian facilities, including hotels and water and power installations.

“These strikes represent a blatant violation of international humanitarian law, specifically the principles of distinction and proportionality,” the aid groups said in a joint statement. They reported widespread fires, smoke hazards in residential areas, and major disruptions to commercial and humanitarian flights.

Port Sudan has served as a logistical lifeline throughout the conflict, accommodating displaced populations and facilitating the bulk of international aid delivery. Following the recent attacks, the United Nations has been forced to suspend humanitarian flights to the area, raising serious concerns about the continuity of relief operations.

Damage to electrical infrastructure has already compelled agencies to rely on generators, exacerbating fears of an imminent fuel shortage. Humanitarian actors warn that continued bombardment could severely compromise access to clean water, power, and essential medical supplies, heightening the risk of disease outbreaks and food insecurity—particularly among women, children, and the elderly.

“We call on all parties to the conflict to adhere strictly to their obligations under the Geneva Conventions,” the coalition urged. “It is imperative to distinguish between military and civilian targets and ensure unfettered humanitarian access to all affected populations.”

Meanwhile, efforts to forge a diplomatic path toward peace have faltered. A UK-led initiative to convene a contact group of regional and international stakeholders in London failed to gain traction, hindered in part by sharp disagreements between the UAE and Egypt over their respective roles in the Sudanese crisis.