Sudan’s military-backed government has accused Kenya of acting as a key transit point for weapons supplied by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The conflict between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces has been ongoing since April 2023 and has already claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced over 13 million people.
What Is Sudan Alleging Against Kenya and the UAE?
In a statement released Tuesday, Sudan’s foreign ministry claimed the army recently discovered “Kenyan-labelled arms and ammunition” in RSF weapon stores in Khartoum. The government further alleged:
“Kenya has been one of the main conduits of the Emirati military supplies to the terrorist RSF militia.”
The accusations build on earlier claims that several foreign powers, namely Egypt, Iran, Turkey, Russia, and the UAE, are funneling arms to the warring factions. Kenya came under additional scrutiny after RSF officials signed a charter in Nairobi in February to form a rival government. Sudan responded by banning all imports from Kenya.
According to the foreign ministry, Kenya “admitted” the UAE’s involvement in supporting RSF. This was reportedly based on a deleted post by Kenyan government spokesman Isaac Mwaura, who wrote on June 16:
“Egypt and Iran back (the Sudanese Armed Forces); the UAE backs RSF.”
While Abu Dhabi continues to deny any involvement, numerous reports from United Nations experts, U.S. lawmakers, and global rights groups suggest otherwise.
How Has the Conflict Affected Civilians and Diplomacy?
The war has devastated Sudan’s infrastructure and public health systems. On Tuesday, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus condemned an attack that killed more than 40 civilians at Al-Mujlad Hospital in West Kordofan State.
According to Emergency Lawyers, a volunteer conflict-monitoring group, the casualties occurred following an army drone strike on the hospital, located over 800 kilometers from Khartoum. The attack marks yet another blow to Sudan’s collapsing healthcare system and raises new concerns about violations of international humanitarian law.
What Is the Global Response to the Growing Crisis?
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has repeatedly urged foreign governments to stop fueling the conflict with arms. He warned that “outside powers are fuelling the fire,” although he has not named specific countries.
Sudan’s army-aligned administration severed ties with the UAE in March, labeling it an “aggressor state” and accusing it of using the RSF as a proxy to destabilize the country and gain access to its natural resources and the Red Sea coast.
By Lucky Anyanje
