Eric Reeves, an American scholar specializing in Sudan, accused the United Arab Emirates of what he described as “staggering hypocrisy” in its recent stance on the war in Sudan. This came after Abu Dhabi joined other states in calling for an end to “fueling the conflict, particularly through supplying arms and financial support.”
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, Reeves said such calls lack credibility as long as the UAE itself remains—according to international media and human rights reports—the main backer of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which stand accused of genocide and widespread atrocities against civilians.
He cited a New York Times report published on September 21, 2024, documenting the UAE’s role in supplying the RSF during its brutal siege of El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, a blockade that worsened the humanitarian catastrophe for more than a year.
Reeves added that UN appeals to halt arms flows are meaningless when one of the very countries issuing these calls is itself violating Security Council Resolution 1556 (2004), which bans arms transfers to warring parties in Darfur.
He also referenced an Amnesty International investigation published on May 8, 2025, which revealed that advanced Chinese weapons reached the RSF via the UAE, in clear violation of the international arms embargo on Sudan.
These accusations come amid mounting global criticism of the UAE’s role in Sudan’s conflict, with Abu Dhabi repeatedly accused of using its financial and political influence to strengthen one side, thereby undermining peace efforts and worsening the humanitarian crisis.
Analysts argue that the UN’s failure to name states directly fueling the conflict renders its statements hollow and provides political cover for continued violations—deepening the suffering of millions of Sudanese civilians.
