The Geopolitics of 'Peacekeeping' in Sudan
THE CLAIM: The New Arab reports that the UAE has formally welcomed a US-backed peace plan for Sudan, expressing hope for a cessation of hostilities and a pathway to stability. This comes after the US appointed Tom Perriello as Special Envoy to Sudan on February 11, 2024, signaling renewed diplomatic efforts. THE EVIDENCE: The public record, however, tells a more complicated story. Multiple
international bodies and leaked documents indicate the UAE has been a material supporter of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan. A December 2023 UN experts' report (S/2023/956, 2023) to the Security Council specifically detailed weapons transfers, including drones and anti-aircraft missiles, from the UAE to the RSF via Chad. Prior to that, a 2022 SIPRI report (2022) highlighted the UAE's
significant increase in military spending and arms procurement, much of which funneled into proxy conflicts across the region. Moreover, the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) has repeatedly documented allegations of Emirati arms shipments sustaining the RSF's war effort, which has led to widespread human rights abuses and the displacement of over 8 million people (UNHCR, 2023).
THE CONTRADICTIONS: The UAE's public embrace of a 'peace plan' while simultaneously being implicated in arming one side of the conflict represents a profound double standard. This isn't merely political maneuvering; it's a strategic pattern of projecting an image of diplomatic engagement while actively pursuing destabilizing interests. The timing is notable: Perriello's appointment came weeks