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Sudan has filed a case against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), alleging that the UAE has been aiding the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the country’s ongoing civil war, both financially and politically While many nations have been drawn into this conflict, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) stands out as the most active player. When the war began, the Sudanese armed forces had around 200,000 combatants, nearly twice the size of the Rapid Support Forces' (RSF) 100,000 fighters. Despite this huge difference in the number of fighters, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has managed to maintain a strong position on the battlefield, which is attributed to foreign support. Reports from Middle East Eye suggest that the UAE has been funneling weapons to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) through supply routes that extended outside of government authority. Amnesty International has also revealed that the UAE has been sending cutting-edge weapons into Darfur. Apart from that, the UAE has also increased its supply of Chinese drones and other weaponry to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), according to The Wall Street Journal.

What now appears to be a bitter rivalry was once a relationship grounded in partnership and shared economic interests. For many years UAE has played a significant role in shaping Sudan’s economic landscape. Research conducted by the French institute Gulf States: A Paradoxical Economic Lifeline for Sudan revealed that the UAE has significantly engaged in the country’s economic activities and invested an ample amount of money in developing the country's industries, including trade, banking, and agriculture, when the country was under international sanctions during the regime of former president Omar al-Bashir. The Emiratis' investment helped Sudan to maintain its vital economic activities.

Sudan’s political history has long been turbulent, and it has often been plagued by its regional problems. After gaining independence from Egypt and Britain in 1956, Omar Hassan Al Bashir ruled Sudan for nearly three decades. Between 2003 and 2005, his government was accused of committing atrocities in Darfur, including mass killings, sexual violence, and looting. After the International Criminal Court (ICC) charged him with genocide, growing protests and a military intervention in 2019 led to the fall of Bashir’s regime. Despite all the effort, Sudan’s fragile democratic transition was short-lived; In October 2021, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan led a coup that overthrew the government, ending Sudan's precarious democratic transition. General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti),on the other hand, rose to prominence as the Leader of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The relationship between the two leaders soon deteriorated due to varying opinions over time, and by 2023, the rivalry had plunged Sudan into a full-fledged war.

Sudan’s importance to the UAE, however, goes beyond politics. It is Africa’s third-largest gold producer and has fertile agriculture, natural gas, and considerable gold deposits. For over a decade, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has served as the main purchaser of Sudan’s gold. The UAE imported around USD$2.29 billion worth of gold from Sudan in 2022. The real value is believed to be far higher. Around 90 percent of Sudan’s gold, worth an estimated USD $13.4 billion, is smuggled through neighboring countries such as Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Uganda, and South Sudan before arriving in the UAE. 

Sudan also holds a significant importance for the UAE as the emirates rely on imports for 90% of their food due to constrained agricultural land and water resources. To establish food security, the UAE has established a global agricultural network of 1 million hectares, predominantly situated in Africa, especially in Sudan. Their investment mainly focuses on animal feed, agricultural crops, and livestock production.

Prior to the conflict, Major Emirati companies such as International Holding Company (IHC) were farming more than 50,000 hectares. Just before the war, International Holding Company secured an agreement with the Dal group to develop a further 162,000 hectares in northern Sudan. However, some of the UAE's attempts to expand land deals were blocked by the Sudanese government. They argued that the nation was being used unfairly - the UAE was disproportionately profiting, whereas it was of little benefit to the locals. As the tension grew UAE allegedly turned its support towards the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) seeking to protect its economic interests and maintain access to Sudan’s vast natural resources. The UAE, however, denied any allegation of supplying arms to the RSF, dismissing them as an attempt by Sudan to divert the world’s attention from the brutality of its ongoing civil war.

The Story of Sudan and UAE thus reflects a dramatic shift from cooperation to confrontation. What was built on economic partnership and mutual benefit is now plagued with suspicion and conflict.

Tasfia Rahman is a Research Intern at Centre for Governance Studies (CGS)

Disclaimer: Views in this article are author’s own and do not necessarily reflect CGS policy