UAE’s Reception of the Turkish Initiative: Acceptance or Rejection Before It Starts?

After more than two weeks, the UAE announced its welcome to the Turkish initiative between Turkey and Sudan, at a time when Sudan welcomed it directly following the phone call between Presidents Burhan and Erdogan, expressing readiness for any Turkish role that might help end the war in the country.

On Saturday, the UAE expressed its welcome to the diplomatic efforts of the friendly Republic of Turkey to find a solution to the current crisis in Sudan, which is also a priority for the UAE. The statement pointed out that these efforts reflect Turkey’s deep commitment to supporting peace and stability in the region and contributing to enhancing relations between countries. The UAE is fully prepared to cooperate and coordinate with Turkish efforts and all diplomatic efforts to end the conflict in Sudan and find a comprehensive solution to the crisis.

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed in its statement on Saturday its clear and firm position on the crisis, stating that the UAE’s primary focus has been, and continues to be, reaching an immediate ceasefire, halting the internal conflict between the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces as soon as possible, and addressing the catastrophic humanitarian crisis by providing urgent humanitarian and relief support to the Sudanese people. The Ministry added that the UAE is working with all concerned parties, regional partners, and the international community to find a peaceful solution to the conflict, aiming to stop the escalation and start Sudanese-Sudanese dialogue involving all political components and conflict parties to achieve the Sudanese people’s aspirations for development, security, and prosperity. The Ministry emphasized the importance of the warring parties adhering to their commitments under the Jeddah Declaration and the “Allied to Enhance Life and Peace in Sudan – ALPS” platform mechanisms.

The Ministry noted that the absence of the Sudanese Armed Forces from the recent peace talks, in which the UAE participated along with several regional and international organizations through the “ALPS” platform in Geneva, represents a blatant disregard for the suffering of the Sudanese people and a lack of willingness to cooperate and engage in peace talks to end the crisis and achieve lasting peace. The Ministry emphasized the importance of dialogue and negotiation as the only way to end the conflict, secure a political process, and achieve national consensus towards a government led by civilians. It called on all concerned parties to return to the negotiating table and actively participate in efforts to bring peace to Sudan.

It is clear from this delayed statement that the UAE welcomed the Turkish efforts in this regard, but within the statement, there are elements confirming its stance towards the Sudanese Armed Forces, which it considered—according to the statement—to have ignored the Sudanese people’s cries by not participating in the Geneva talks. The statement also seems to indicate the UAE’s continued support for the Rapid Support Forces, as they were mentioned before the Armed Forces. The statement interpreted the Turkish initiative as an attempt to resolve the Sudanese Armed Forces’ conflict with the Rapid Support Forces, although the initiative was understood to be about resolving the dispute between Sudan and the UAE. This clarifies that the UAE does not want to acknowledge its role in the Sudanese conflict, which must be resolved first before engaging in any negotiations related to the crisis. To what extent can this statement be considered as welcoming the Turkish initiative, and to what extent can it be interpreted as undermining it before it even begins?

On his part, Sudanese Ba’ath Party leader Mohamed Wada’a considered the UAE’s delay in responding to the Turkish initiative as a rejection of it. Wada’a told Al-Muhaqqiq that the whole world expected the UAE to seize this opportunity and welcome it quickly, but its response was negative, expressing the UAE’s arrogance and insistence on aggression against the Sudanese people. He noted that Turkey attempted to assist the UAE with this initiative, and before that, Britain had also tried, pointing to the UAE’s clear bias towards the militia in its statement. He explained that this is natural since the UAE is the sponsor of this militia and is carrying out its project. He added that the UAE appeared hostile towards the army in the statement, explaining that the Turkish initiative is between the two countries, and the statement’s formulation confirms the UAE’s attempt to evade responsibility. He emphasized that the UAE will not pursue any solution path in Sudan, and its agenda is to overthrow the Sudanese state and attempt to control the Sudanese people’s resources. Wada’a expressed his belief that the issue between Sudan and the UAE would be resolved through legal means by the International Court of Justice and not through negotiation. He further claimed that the UAE contributed to the killing and displacement of the Sudanese people, the destruction of Sudan’s infrastructure, supplying the terrorist militia with weapons and equipment, and using mercenaries from other countries. He asserted that there is evidence to support the UAE’s actions in Sudan.

Wada’a believed that with this statement, the UAE rejected the Turkish initiative, considering it an irresponsible and undiplomatic statement, which closed the door to any negotiations. He said that the Sudanese people did not expect much from the UAE and are fully aware of its colonial and settlement project in Sudan, which is now being dismantled by the will and patience of the Sudanese people. He pointed to the reception of the Turkish initiative by Burhan and the Sudanese foreign minister’s praise for relations with the UAE. He noted that it is natural for the minister to set conditions for negotiating with the UAE, which contributed to the displacement and killing of the Sudanese people. He compared this to the Syrian government’s request for reparations from Iran, which helped destroy Syria. He concluded by saying that Sudan would not be ashamed to ask for compensation from the UAE, but that they expect harm from the UAE, as that is its nature.