JEM leader blames UAE for RSF drone attacks

KHARTOUM – Sudan’s Finance Minister and leader of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), Jibril Ibrahim, has renewed accusations against the UAE, alleging it has been supplying the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) with military drones used in the ongoing war against the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and allied rebel groups.

In a Statement shared on his official Facebook page, Ibrahim claimed the drones used by the RSF to carry out deadly strikes in Sudan were “purchased and delivered by Mohamed Bin Zayed to the Daglo militia through various routes.”

He further alleged that operations targeting civilians and essential infrastructure are “managed from a control in Abu Dhabi”.

“The drones killing our people were provided by the UAE,” he wrote. “I do not believe the Emirati people are pleased with what their ruler is doing to Sudan and its people.”

The RSF, led by Mohamed Hamadan Daglo (Commonly known as Hemedti) and his brother Abdelrahim Daglo, has acquired long-range drone capabilities since the war erupted in April 2023. These drones have allegedly been used in repeated attacks on urban centers, hospitals, and key infrastructure in areas held by the SAF.

While this is not the first time Sudanese officials and observers have accused the UAE of backing the RSF, the allegations have gained traction with investigative reporting and independent monitoring.

Several media outlets and human rights organization have reported a pattern of suspicious flights from the UAE to Chad and Libya, which are believed to be used by transit points for weapons destined for the RSF.

In December 2024, Sudan’s transition government filed a case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing the UAE of complicity in acts of genocide and war crimes, particularly in the Darfur region, where RSF forces have been accused of ethnically targeted killings, mass displacement, and the destruction of entire towns.

Relation between Sudan and the UAE have been tense since the outbreak of the current conflict. Before the war, the UAE maintained strong diplomatic and economic ties with both military and civilian factions in Sudan’s transitional government. However, following the RSF’s military campaign and its alleged foreign backers, Khartoum has increasingly shifted its stance, viewing Abu Dhabi as a destabilizing force.

For its part, the UAE has consistently denied any involvement in the conflict, stating that its role is purely humanitarian. Emirati officials say their aircraft have been used to deliver aid to Sudanese refugees who have fled to neighboring Chad. In recent statement, the UAE reiterated its commitment to peace and called for an end to the violence in Sudan.

Nonetheless, Sudanese officials remain adamant that the UAE is playing a direct and destructive role in the conflict. Jibril Ibrahim’s latest comments reflect growing frustration within the Sudanese government and its allied factions, who believe regional powers are fueling proxy war at the expense of Sudanese civilians.