By Kelly Were
Sudan has officially severed diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates, accusing the Gulf state of supporting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and violating Sudanese sovereignty amid the country’s brutal civil conflict.
The decision was announced Wednesday following an emergency session of Sudan’s Security and Defence Council, which labeled the UAE an “aggressor state” and ordered the immediate closure of Sudan’s embassy and consulate general in the Emirates.
The Sudanese government, currently operating from Port Sudan, claims that the UAE has provided strategic military assistance to the RSF, the paramilitary group locked in a deadly power struggle with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). According to the council’s statement, this includes drones and heavy weaponry allegedly used in recent attacks across the country, including coordinated strikes on oil depots, power stations, the national port, and airport facilities in Port Sudan.
“These attacks threaten not only Sudan’s national security but also regional and international stability, particularly the safety of Red Sea shipping lanes,” read the council’s strongly worded communique.
The council, which includes senior military and civilian leadership aligned with SAF, stated that Sudan reserves the right to retaliate under Article 51 of the UN Charter, invoking its right to self-defence.
International Legal Setback and Political Fallout
The diplomatic rupture comes just one day after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) dismissed a case brought by Sudan against the UAE, ruling that it lacked jurisdiction. Sudan had alleged Emirati interference in its internal affairs, but the court determined that the matter fell outside its purview.
Some observers view the timing of the diplomatic break as a strategic escalation by Port Sudan’s authorities in response to the legal setback and ongoing battlefield losses.
UAE Responds: ‘Illegitimate and Politically Motivated’
In a swift rebuttal, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement today rejecting Sudan’s move. The Ministry dismissed the decision as “null and void,” arguing that the Port Sudan Authority “does not represent the legitimate government of Sudan and its honourable people.”
Labeling the move “deplorable” and “diversionary,” the UAE accused Sudanese authorities of political opportunism and of sabotaging regional peace efforts. However, the Ministry reassured the public that Sudanese nationals living or visiting the UAE would not be affected.
“Despite these unfounded accusations, the deep-rooted ties between our peoples will endure,” the statement read.
Geopolitical Ripples
The fallout adds another layer of complexity to a conflict that has already displaced millions and destabilized the Horn of Africa. Analysts warn that the diplomatic row could drag other regional powers into deeper entanglement, potentially reshaping alliances across the Gulf and East Africa.
With no ceasefire in sight and diplomatic channels now severed between two historically allied states, regional observers are bracing for heightened tensions on both the military and diplomatic fronts.
