Sudan’s military government has denied allegations from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that its forces bombed the UAE ambassador’s residence in Khartoum, attributing the attack instead to the rival paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
On Monday, the UAE condemned the incident, stating that a Sudanese military aircraft targeted its diplomatic post, labeling the action a “heinous attack.” The Sudanese government, which is currently engaged in efforts to regain control of the capital, has previously accused the UAE of providing support to the RSF, with whom it has been in conflict for over a year.
“The UAE has urged the Sudanese military to take full responsibility for this cowardly act,” stated the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a recent announcement.
The ministry condemned the incident as a “flagrant violation of the fundamental principle of the inviolability of diplomatic premises,” noting that the attack resulted in significant damage to the building.
Additionally, the UAE plans to file complaints with the League of Arab States, the African Union, and the United Nations regarding the incident.
In a pointed remark directed at its rival, with which it has been engaged in a struggle for control over large areas of Sudan since April 2023, the Sudanese military stated that it does not target diplomatic missions, United Nations agencies, or non-governmental organizations, nor does it convert them into military bases or loot their assets.
The military’s statement condemned the RSF as “the one that carries out these heinous and cowardly actions,” accusing the paramilitary group of being supported by “countries known to the world.”
The military government has previously alleged that the UAE has provided weapons and support to the RSF amid a conflict that has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and a severe humanitarian crisis.
In June, Sudan’s ambassador to the United Nations, al-Harith Idriss al-Harith Mohamed, accused Abu Dhabi of supplying financial and military assistance to the RSF, claiming that this support is a primary reason for the ongoing war.
The Gulf state has dismissed the allegations as “disinformation,” asserting that its efforts are solely focused on de-escalation and alleviating the humanitarian crisis in Sudan.
However, UN sanctions monitors have deemed the claims of the UAE providing military support to the RSF as credible.
According to the UN, nearly 25 million people—half of Sudan’s population—are in need of aid, with famine looming and approximately 8 million people displaced from their homes.
Recently, heavy clashes have erupted in various areas of the capital as government forces launched an assault to regain control of Khartoum. The RSF has largely maintained control over much of the city since hostilities began and has faced accusations of committing abuses against the civilian population.
