In an extensive investigation, The Observer highlighted what it described as the “pivotal yet covert” role played by the United Arab Emirates in the ongoing conflict in Sudan. The report revealed that Abu Dhabi has established a cross-border supply network through Chad, bolstering the RSF’s capabilities and enabling its territorial expansion, particularly in the Darfur region.
According to the investigation, the Emirati support is not provided directly inside Sudan but rather through “informal channels” and third-country transit routes. The newspaper reported that the UAE operates facilities in Chad — including a field hospital and a logistical hub receiving air shipments declared as humanitarian aid — part of which, according to Western intelligence sources, is redirected to ground convoys heading toward Darfur to reinforce RSF units.
Cameron Hudson, a U.S. expert on the Horn of Africa, told The Observer that this mechanism has effectively created a “ring of fire” around Sudan by maintaining a steady flow of supplies across its western borders. This, he said, has enabled the RSF to sustain military operations in areas cut off from traditional government supply lines, helping the group seize strategic towns and extend its control westward.
While the UAE has firmly denied any military involvement, insisting that its shipments are purely humanitarian, The Observer pointed to a lack of transparency regarding the nature of these consignments and the entities managing logistics inside Chad. The report noted that some activities are handled through “third-party networks” operating outside official frameworks.
The investigation concluded that Sudan has become a proxy battleground where flows of arms, money, gold, and regional logistics are reshaping power dynamics. Analysts cited the fall of El Fasher as a stark example of how these supply chains have decisively influenced the course of the conflict, while the humanitarian toll continues to rise amid regional instability and an increasingly elusive peace.
