Sudan's War and Africa's Deafening Silence: UAE Influence & the Rebels Who Profit

For over two and a half years, Sudan has been consumed by a brutal civil war that has killed tens of thousands, displaced 12 million people, and created what the United Nations describes as the world's largest humanitarian crisis. Yet despite the scale of this catastrophe, Africa and much of the international community have maintained a disturbing silence. Behind this devastating conflict lies a complex web of foreign interference, strategic interests, and allegations of profiteering that deserve urgent attention. The War That's Tearing Sudan Apart The conflict erupted in April 2023 when two former allies turned against each other: General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, leader of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as "Hemedti," commander of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). These men had previously collaborated in a 2021 coup that overthrew Sudan's transitional civilian government, but their power-sharing arrangement collapsed into open warfare. The human cost has been staggering. Recent events in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, exemplify the horror. After an 18-month siege, the RSF captured the city in late October 2025, with reports suggesting thousands were killed in mass executions and ethnic cleansing targeting the Masalit and other non-Arab populations. The United States has determined that the RSF has committed genocide in Darfur, yet the international response remains inadequate. The UAE's Shadow War in Sudan Central to understanding this conflict is the role of the United Arab Emirates. Despite persistent denials from Abu Dhabi, mounting evidence from United Nations panels, American officials, and investigative reports points to extensive UAE support for the RSF. In March 2025, Sudan took the unprecedented step of filing a case at the International Court of Justice, accusing the UAE of complicity in genocide through its alleged arming of the RSF. The evidence is compelling. UN experts documented a "consistent pattern" of military cargo flights from the UAE to Chad, with weapons then transported overland into RSF-controlled areas in northwestern Sudan. These Ilyushin Il-76TD aircraft deliveries have reportedly included advanced drone technology, ammunition, and other military equipment. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio explicitly stated during a Senate hearing that the UAE is "openly supporting an entity that is carrying out a genocide." But why is the UAE so invested in Sudan? The answer lies in strategic interests that extend far beyond the conflict itself. Sudan possesses vast natural resources, including gold, agricultural land, and gas reserves. The country is also Africa's third-largest gold producer, with the RSF controlling much of this lucrative trade. Additionally, Sudan's location along the Red Sea makes it a crucial maritime corridor, while its proximity to Libya—where the UAE also backs rebel forces—creates opportunities for regional influence. The UAE's support for the RSF serves multiple objectives: countering Saudi influence in the region, containing political Islam (particularly the Muslim Brotherhood), and securing access to Sudan's resources. Development group Swissaid estimated that in 2022, approximately 66.5 percent of African gold exports to the UAE had been smuggled out, with Dubai serving as a major hub for Sudanese gold. Kenya's Controversial Role and Ruto's Alleged Interests Perhaps nothing illustrates Africa's complicated relationship with Sudan's war more than Kenya's controversial involvement. President William Ruto has faced intense criticism for hosting RSF leaders and facilitating what Sudan's government views as an attempt to legitimize a genocidal militia. In February 2025, Kenya hosted a meeting in Nairobi where the RSF and its allies signed a charter to form a parallel "Government of Peace and Unity." This move sparked outrage from Sudan's army-aligned government, which recalled its ambassador from Kenya and threatened to cut diplomatic ties. Sudan's foreign ministry accused Ruto of acting on "his commercial and personal interests with the militia's regional sponsors." These allegations gained credibility after Rigathi Gachagua, Kenya's former deputy president, publicly claimed that Ruto is involved in the RSF's gold trade. The timing is also suspicious: just weeks before hosting the RSF meeting, Kenya signed a major economic agreement with the UAE in January 2025, with the Emirates pledging to double investments in Kenya and provide a $1.5 billion loan to cover budget deficits. Analysts have noted a dramatic shift in Kenya's traditional role as an impartial regional mediator. The country, once respected for hosting peace negotiations, now faces accusations of taking sides in a conflict characterized by genocide and mass atrocities. In June 2025, a Bellingcat investigation revealed Kenyan-labeled ammunition crates in an RSF depot near Khartoum, further fueling suspicions of Kenya's involvement beyond mere diplomatic engagement. Africa's Deafening Silence The most troubling aspect of Sudan's war may be the relative silence from African institutions and leaders. While the African Union has shown some willingness to assign blame, with Sudan's Humanitarian Aid Commissioner criticizing AU officials for attending UAE-sponsored meetings on Sudan, the continental body remains deeply divided. The lack of decisive action reflects broader geopolitical realities. Many African nations have financial or security relationships with the UAE, making them reluctant to challenge Abu Dhabi's role in the conflict. Countries like Ethiopia, Chad, South Sudan, Kenya, and parts of Somalia all maintain varying degrees of friendship with either the RSF or its sponsors, creating a complex web of interests that undermines collective action. Meanwhile, Western powers have largely failed to apply meaningful pressure. While expressing concern over the humanitarian catastrophe, European and American officials rarely acknowledge the UAE's destructive role with the same vigor they apply to other international conflicts. This selective outrage allows the war to continue unabated. The Path Forward Sudan's war represents a new kind of conflict—one fueled by external actors pursuing strategic interests through proxy forces, all while millions suffer. The country faces the real possibility of fragmenting into multiple failed states, similar to Libya's fate. With South Sudan's 2011 independence still fresh in memory, further division could create a cascade of humanitarian disasters across the region. Breaking this cycle requires coordinated international pressure on external actors, particularly the UAE, to cease their support for belligerents. Egypt and Saudi Arabia, despite their own involvement, must be brought into alignment with diplomatic efforts. The African Union needs to overcome its divisions and assert leadership in ending a war that threatens regional stability. Most importantly, the international community must stop treating Sudan as a peripheral crisis. This is not just Africa's problem—it's a test of whether the world will allow genocide, mass displacement, and resource exploitation to continue unchecked in the 21st century. The silence must end, and accountability must begin.