The report by the Washington Centre for Human Rights provides a thorough and alarming analysis of the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) involvement in war crimes in Sudan, specifically through its support for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the Darfur region. Covering the period since April 2023, this devastating conflict has seen numerous gross human rights violations, including ethnic cleansing, sexual violence, and targeted attacks on civilians. The report exposes the scale and gravity of these offenses and critically evaluates the inadequate international response to the crisis.
Background and Context of the Conflict in Sudan
Since April 2023, Sudan has been engulfed in a brutal civil war, primarily between two formerly allied military factions: the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, commonly known as Hemedti. The clash for control over Sudan has led to the destruction of infrastructure, the displacement of millions, and widespread atrocities.
Darfur, a region already scarred by decades of violence and humanitarian crises, has again become a central theater of conflict. The RSF and allied militias have conducted concerted campaigns aimed at ethnic groups such as the Masalit community, leading to allegations of genocide and systematic war crimes.
The UAE’s Role: Military, Political, and Financial Support
The report presents compelling evidence that the UAE has been directly involved in supporting the RSF militarily, politically, and financially. This support has enabled the RSF to sustain and escalate its campaign of violence in West Darfur. The UAE’s involvement includes supplying arms and logistical assistance critical to RSF operations, as well as diplomatic backing that shields the RSF from international accountability.
Satellite imagery and humanitarian data confirm the widespread destruction wrought upon civilian areas, while the testimonies of over 220 eyewitnesses and survivors collected by Human Rights Watch detail horrific instances of sexual violence, mass killings, and the forced displacement of entire communities.
Human Rights Violations and War Crimes Documented
The RSF, with implicit or explicit backing from the UAE, has committed numerous human rights violations constituting war crimes under international law. Key abuses include:
- Ethnic Cleansing: Targeted attacks on Masalit villages involving killings, arson, and looting have forced over half a million refugees to flee into neighboring Chad since April 2023. The report underscores that this displacement is a direct result of the RSF’s deliberate policy of ethnic cleansing.
- Sexual Violence: Widespread and systematic use of sexual violence as a weapon of war against women and girls has been documented, causing lasting trauma and social disruption within affected communities.
- Attacks on Civilians: The intentional targeting of markets, homes, and religious sites has contributed to extensive civilian casualties and the collapse of essential services.
These abuses represent grave breaches of international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions and the statutes defining war crimes and crimes against humanity.
International Legal Proceedings and Responses
In response to mounting evidence and international pressure, Sudan filed a case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) accusing the UAE of violating the Genocide Convention. Sudan alleges that the UAE’s extensive military and financial support to the RSF makes it complicit in genocide and other crimes.
The ICJ proceedings have heightened global awareness of the crisis, forcing diplomatic discourse on the responsibilities of external actors like the UAE. However, the UAE has firmly denied the allegations, dismissing the proceedings as politically motivated and questioning the court’s jurisdiction.
Despite these denials, key international actors such as the United States, Canada, and the European Union have imposed sanctions on RSF leaders, acknowledging atrocities and seeking to curb the flow of arms and financial resources fueling the conflict.
Shortcomings of the International Community
The report critiques the muted and fragmented response by major international organizations. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and the African Union (AU), charged with maintaining peace and security, have largely failed to take decisive action to halt human rights violations or effectively protect civilians in Sudan.
Political divisions within the UNSC, compounded by the veto power held by permanent members, have rendered the council incapable of imposing a meaningful arms embargo or authorizing robust peacekeeping or intervention operations. Meanwhile, the AU’s regional mechanisms have struggled with limited mandates and resources, diminishing their effectiveness amid the escalating crisis.
These failures have contributed to worsening conditions on the ground, with humanitarian access severely restricted by ongoing hostilities and bureaucratic obstacles.
Humanitarian Impact and Displacement
The conflict has precipitated one of the most severe humanitarian crises in the world. More than half a million people have fled West Darfur alone since April 2023, seeking refuge in Chad and other neighboring countries. Displacement camps are overwhelmed, with civilians lacking adequate shelter, food, and medical care, exposing them to disease and further violence.
The deliberate destruction of civilian infrastructure by the RSF and its allies has crippled local economies and social services, deepening the crisis. Women, children, and marginalized communities bear the brunt of this suffering, with disruption to education and healthcare compounding long-term instability risks.
Recommendations and Calls to Action
The report concludes with urgent calls for the international community to take robust and coordinated action, including:
- Accountability: Mobilizing investigations and prosecutions of those responsible for war crimes and atrocities, including UAE officials and RSF leaders.
- Arms Embargo: The imposition and enforcement of a comprehensive international arms embargo on Sudan to prevent further inflow of weapons to warring parties.
- Humanitarian Aid: Ensuring unobstructed delivery of humanitarian assistance to affected populations, with heightened protections for displaced people and vulnerable groups.
- Diplomatic Engagement: Increased multilateral diplomatic pressure on the UAE and other external actors supporting conflict parties to cease their involvement and contribute to peace efforts.
- Strengthening Regional and International Institutions: Reinvigorating the role of the UNSC and the AU in conflict resolution and civilian protection, removing political blockages to decisive action.
The involvement of the UAE in the Sudanese conflict, as detailed by the Washington Centre for Human Rights, represents a stark example of how external interference can exacerbate intra-state violence and lead to systematic violations of human rights. The report provides incontrovertible evidence linking the UAE’s military, financial, and political support to the RSF’s commission of war crimes in Darfur.
This ongoing conflict is not only a regional crisis but a global humanitarian and legal challenge. The international community faces a moral and legal imperative to hold perpetrators accountable, safeguard human rights, and promote sustainable peace in Sudan.
Only through concerted, transparent, and decisive multilateral efforts can the cycle of violence in Sudan be broken, preventing further loss of life and suffering, and ensuring justice for the victims of these atrocities. The world must act urgently to address this crisis and uphold the principles of international law and human dignity.