Thu Sep 12 00:46:44 UTC 2024: ## Sudan Accuses UAE of Fueling War, UAE Counters with Blaming Government

The Sudanese government has accused the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of supplying weapons to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a rival paramilitary group, thereby prolonging the 17-month-long conflict in the country. This accusation was made during a UN Security Council meeting where members unanimously voted to extend an arms embargo on Sudan’s Darfur region until September 2025.

The UAE vehemently denied the allegations, calling them “utterly false” and “baseless,” instead accusing the Sudanese military of refusing to negotiate peace with the RSF.

The Sudanese ambassador, Al-Harith Mohamed, presented evidence of a recent weapons shipment sent through Chad to the RSF, citing the reopening of the Adre border crossing for humanitarian aid as a means to smuggle weapons. He also claimed the UAE is profiting from the war by exploiting Sudanese gold.

In response, the UAE ambassador, Mohamed Abushahab, accused the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) of using starvation as a weapon of war and displaying a lack of political will to negotiate. He urged the SAF to participate in peace talks, stating that ending the conflict requires both parties to engage in dialogue.

The UN Security Council meeting highlighted the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Sudan, with reports of over 20,000 deaths, 13 million displaced people, and a growing famine in Darfur.

While the council extended the arms embargo in Darfur, efforts to expand it to the entire country were unsuccessful. Human Rights Watch criticized this decision as a “missed opportunity” to limit arms flow and curb widespread atrocities.

The situation in Sudan is further complicated by allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by both sides. The UN-backed human rights investigators urged the establishment of an independent force to protect civilians and called for an expansion of the arms embargo to the entire country.

The international community is urging all parties to engage in peace talks and refrain from supporting the war effort, emphasizing the need for a negotiated solution to end the conflict and alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Sudan.

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