Sudan government condemns UAE for arming RSF

KHARTOUM, Sudan

Yasser Al-Atta, a member of the Sudanese Sovereign Council and Assistant Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Army, has sharply criticized the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for providing military supplies to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a militia group that has been embroiled in a conflict with the Sudanese army for over seven months.

Al-Atta’s statement, which is the first official confirmation of UAE involvement in the Sudanese conflict, comes amid mounting allegations from Western media and Sudanese political and civil groups that the UAE is backing the RSF and providing them with weapons and military equipment.

Addressing a military gathering at the Wadi Saydna military base north of Omdurman, Al-Atta said, “Information obtained by the General Intelligence Service and the military and foreign diplomatic intelligence indicates that the UAE has been transporting military supplies to the Janjaweed militia via Entebbe Airport in Uganda and Central Africa, before the start of the dismantling of the Russian Wagner Group, in addition to Am Jars Airport in Chad.”

He further alleged that the UAE’s efforts to supply the Janjaweed have been hampered by influential figures within the Chadian government, stating, “We respect the Chadian people. They are a brotherly people with whom we have ties of blood, religion, and language, but within them are some mercenary agents and traitors to the African peoples, and they are agents of modern colonialism.”

Al-Atta went on to criticize the UAE for its involvement in the conflict, saying, “I know a terrorist and criminal organization, but a state that is a mafia is the first time I hear of it… The Emirates is a state that loves ruin and follows in the footsteps of evil, even though its people are brotherly and its founding leader, Sheikh Zayed, was at this time known for goodness and giving, but the successor is behind evil.”

He warned the countries that support the RSF to prepare for repercussions, stating, “We remind them of the experience of the Sudanese intelligence services in fighting back against the enemy.”

Al-Atta also declared the army’s readiness to take action against the RSF, stating, “The high command has prepared plans, that all areas are ready, and the capabilities are available, and we will march in all directions.”

Earlier on Monday, Al-Atta had left the headquarters of the Corps of Engineers in central Omdurman after having been there since the start of the war with the RSF on April 15. The RSF say they have imposed a siege on the Corps of Engineers headquarters and seek to seize it.