The Washington Post reported, in an article by Toby Ragge, that the United Arab Emirates is facing growing international criticism for supporting a paramilitary rebel militia in Sudan.
Human rights organizations, U.S. officials, and regional experts increasingly hold the UAE responsible for fueling violence in Sudan.
The outrage intensified following the crimes committed by the militia in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, last month, where its members reportedly massacred families, doctors, and other civilians.
Advocacy groups, members of the U.S. Congress, and regional experts described the militia’s actions in El Fasher as genocide, holding the UAE accountable for sustaining violence in the ongoing conflict for over two years.
The newspaper noted that the UAE’s involvement in Sudan stems from its interests in the Red Sea, which handles about 12% of global shipping, according to experts.
Latifa Bader, Director of the Horn of Africa Division at Human Rights Watch, said: “We have not seen any public condemnation or exposure of the UAE, which is urgently needed.” She added: “So far, no political cost has been imposed on the UAE for its continued support. This is a country that cares deeply about its image, and its partners worldwide must criticize its ongoing support for the Rapid Support Forces.”
In Congress, Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen (Maryland), Representative Rashida Tlaib (Michigan), and Democrat Gregory W. Meeks (New York) called for a ban on all arms sales to the UAE.
Several U.S. senators from both parties criticized the Gulf state’s role in the war, stating that the UAE “fueled the conflict, benefited from it, and legitimized the monsters destroying Sudan.”
