The United Arab Emirates announced on Wednesday that it successfully intercepted a significant weapons shipment intended for the Sudanese army, amid ongoing tensions surrounding accusations that the UAE has been supporting rival paramilitary forces in Sudan’s protracted conflict. This development arrives just ahead of a crucial ruling from the International Court of Justice, wherein Sudan has lodged claims against the UAE for alleged complicity in genocide linked to its support of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi stated that the country’s security services halted the transfer of military supplies following the apprehension of individuals involved in unauthorized negotiations and illicit arms trafficking. While the announcement did not disclose the identities of all the suspects, it named several notable figures associated with the Sudanese administration, including former intelligence chief Salah Gosh and a political associate of army leader General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan. These individuals, along with several Sudanese businessmen, were reportedly arrested during an inspection of a private aircraft that was discovered to be carrying around five million rounds of ammunition.
The investigation indicated that the members of the trafficking ring had orchestrated a military deal valued at millions of dollars, involving not only machine gun ammunition but also firearms like Kalashnikov rifles and grenades. Essential to this operation was a company reportedly established by a cell working under Colonel Othman Al-Zubair, who oversees financial operations for the Sudanese military. This entity allegedly employed counterfeit invoices to disguise the nature of the transaction as a sugar import, raising further concerns about the integrity of such dealings.
The investigation revealed that Ahmed Rabie Ahmed Al-Sayed, recognized as a political figure with connections to Burhan, was instrumental in facilitating necessary certifications and approvals that enabled the illicit transactions. The overall findings pointed to a network deeply embedded within the Sudanese Armed Forces, implicating high-ranking officials, including Al-Burhan and his deputy, Yasser Al-Atta.
Authorities reported that the trafficking cell amassed approximately $2.6 million in profits from the arms deals, with funds linked to Gosh found in the possession of a former chief of staff. Furthermore, other companies tied to a Sudanese-Ukrainian businessman emerged in the investigation, having supplied the Sudanese army with various weaponry, including drones, in conjunction with the trafficking operations. Alarmingly, one of these companies was already under U.S. sanctions.
Attorney General Shamsi described the situation as a serious violation of the UAE’s national security, indicating that those arrested would face expedited legal proceedings. The UAE has continually faced allegations from Sudan and other parties regarding its alleged support for the RSF amid their ongoing conflict with the Sudanese army. The Gulf nation has maintained its stance of non-involvement, notably assuring the United States in December of its commitment not to supply arms to the RSF, especially following pressure from U.S. lawmakers who believed the UAE had breached this assurance.
The conflict in Sudan has precipitated a humanitarian crisis, claiming tens of thousands of lives and displacing more than 13 million people, with both factions—the Sudanese army and the RSF—facing accusations of severe human rights violations and war crimes amid the violence that continues to plague the region.
