Sudan has officially severed diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), intensifying regional tensions amid its devastating two-year civil war. The decision follows a wave of drone attacks in the once-safe city of Port Sudan, which the Sudanese military attributes to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) allegedly supported by the UAE.
On Tuesday, Sudan’s Defence Minister Yassin Ibrahim accused the UAE of violating the country’s sovereignty through its “proxy” RSF, escalating longstanding claims of Emirati involvement in Sudan’s internal conflict. The UAE has denied the allegations, insisting it is not involved in the war.
As part of the severance, Sudan will withdraw its ambassador from the UAE and close all diplomatic missions in the Gulf state, according to a statement from Sudan’s defence council.
Port Sudan Under Siege
The latest crisis was triggered by three consecutive days of drone strikes in Port Sudan—previously a safe haven for internally displaced people, aid agencies, and foreign diplomats. Strikes hit key infrastructure including the international airport, a major power station, a fuel depot, and a hotel near the residence of army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.
The army blamed the RSF for the assaults, calling them “a dangerous escalation” of the conflict. The RSF has yet to comment.
Thick smoke and fire engulfed the skyline, leaving residents and humanitarian workers in fear. “We woke up to the roar of explosions. We had never witnessed an attack before,” said Mariam Atta, a hospital supervisor. “The fear is constant.”
Sudan’s electricity company reported a complete blackout in the city after the power station was struck, disrupting access to water and healthcare services.
International Reactions and Legal Setbacks
The African Union has condemned the attacks, warning they pose “a direct threat to civilians, humanitarian access, and regional stability.”
Meanwhile, efforts by Sudan to hold the UAE accountable at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) have failed. On Monday, the ICJ dismissed Sudan’s case accusing the UAE of complicity in genocide, citing a jurisdictional clause the UAE opted out of under the 1948 Genocide Convention.
“The court is precluded by its statute from taking any position on the merits of the claims,” the ICJ said in a summary of its ruling.
UAE’s Deputy Assistant Minister for Political Affairs, Reem Ketait, welcomed the decision. “This case was utterly baseless,” she said, reiterating that the UAE “bears no responsibility” for the conflict and urging the international community to prioritise humanitarian relief.
A Region in Crisis
The RSF and Sudanese army have both been accused of war crimes since fighting erupted in April 2023. The conflict has killed thousands, displaced millions, and created what the UN describes as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
Port Sudan, now a hub for government operations and humanitarian coordination after the fall of Khartoum, had until now been spared the conflict’s worst violence.
The RSF has increasingly used drone technology to mount attacks and reclaim territory, a strategy that marks a new phase in the civil war. The group recently suffered a setback when the army retook control of Khartoum in March.
With diplomatic relations between Sudan and the UAE now officially severed, and accusations flying on both sides, the prospect for regional de-escalation appears remote.
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