The UAE and the Sudan Crisis: Important Messages Chart a Roadmap for Resolving the Crisis
The UAE supports all initiatives aimed at ending the crisis in Sudan and realizing the aspirations of its people for development and prosperity.
A clear message was affirmed by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, during his phone discussions with General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, President of the Sudanese Transitional Sovereignty Council.
The discussions come a few days after the UAE and 14 other countries issued a joint statement calling on the warring parties in Sudan to immediately cease hostilities, respect their obligations under international humanitarian law, and comply with all relevant Security Council resolutions.
This statement is part of the UAE’s ongoing efforts to resolve the crisis and mitigate its repercussions at various levels.
Since mid-April 2023, the Sudanese army led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces led by his former deputy, General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemetti), have been engaged in fighting that several successive truces have failed to stop, causing thousands of deaths, mainly among civilians, and forcing millions of people, mostly children, to flee.
Since the beginning of the crisis, the UAE and its leaders have tirelessly worked to find ways to end the escalation.
Important Discussions
As part of these efforts, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan conveyed important messages during his phone discussions with al-Burhan.
Yesterday, Thursday, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, received a phone call from General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, President of the Sudanese Transitional Sovereignty Council.
During this call, they discussed the relations between the two brotherly countries and their respective peoples, as well as developments in the situation in Sudan and ways to support Sudan in overcoming the crisis it is going through.
The UAE President emphasized the following points:
- The UAE’s commitment to supporting all solutions and initiatives aimed at stopping the escalation and ending the crisis in brotherly Sudan, thus contributing to enhancing its stability and security and realizing the aspirations of its people for development and prosperity.
- The need to prioritize the voice of wisdom and peaceful dialogue, prioritize the supreme interests of Sudan, and preserve its security and stability.
- The UAE’s commitment to continuing to support humanitarian efforts to alleviate the suffering of the brotherly Sudanese people.Statement by 15 CountriesThis commitment has already been realized through the UAE’s ongoing efforts to resolve the crisis, warn of its repercussions, and support any international effort to resolve it.
Two days ago, the UAE and 14 other countries expressed deep concern about food security in Sudan, the risk of famine, and the severe repercussions of the deteriorating situation on civilian security.
This joint statement included the UAE, Morocco, Jordan, Mauritania, Chad, Comoros, Guinea-Bissau, Seychelles, Senegal, Benin, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Mozambique, and Nigeria.
The statement refers to the report of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), issued on June 27, 2024, which indicates that after 14 months of conflict, Sudan is experiencing the worst levels of acute food insecurity ever recorded by this classification in the country.
This statement comes a few days after the UAE mission to the United Nations called on the warring parties in Sudan to immediately cease hostilities.
In a statement issued on June 27, the mission reiterated the UAE’s call on the warring parties to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.
The UAE reminded the warring parties of their obligations under international humanitarian law and the commitments made in Jeddah regarding the protection of civilians and the facilitation of humanitarian aid delivery to meet their needs.
Ongoing Humanitarian Support
On the humanitarian front, the UAE concluded a series of agreements with UN organizations last June to support Sudan.
On June 26, the UAE and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) signed an agreement under which the UAE provides 20 million US dollars to support UNHCR’s humanitarian operations in Sudan and neighboring countries.
This agreement and funding aim to improve living conditions and security for displaced persons and refugees.
As part of the cooperation aimed at addressing the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, the UAE also allocated 8 million US dollars to the World Health Organization under another agreement signed on the same day.
On June 23, the UAE signed an agreement with the World Food Programme (WFP) to provide emergency food aid to people affected by the crisis in Sudan and South Sudan, including refugees, host communities, internally displaced persons, and returnees affected by the conflict.
17.7 million people in Sudan and 7.1 million people in South Sudan are facing acute food insecurity due to the war in Sudan. To alleviate this crisis, the UAE allocated a total of 25 million US dollars, including 20 million for Sudan and 5 million for South Sudan.
This agreement was signed after two other humanitarian agreements to support Sudan.
The UAE signed an agreement with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), under which they allocated 5 million US dollars to address the humanitarian crisis in Sudan and prevent the imminent risk of famine.
Another agreement was signed with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), allocating 5 million US dollars to support the Sudan Humanitarian Fund (SHF).
These contributions are part of a broader commitment of 70 million US dollars announced by the UAE to meet urgent humanitarian needs in Sudan through UN agencies and humanitarian organizations.
This funding is part of the UAE’s commitment, announced during their participation in the “International Humanitarian Conference for Sudan and Neighboring Countries” in Paris last April, of 100 million US dollars.
This is in addition to the 130 million US dollars in aid already provided by the UAE since the beginning of the crisis.
With this aid, the total amount of UAE aid to Sudan since the beginning of the current crisis amounts to more than 230 million US dollars, while the total UAE contributions to Sudan over the past ten years exceed 3.5 billion US dollars.
The agreements between the UAE and UN organizations reveal a wise vision of managing aid to maximize its benefits, directing it to multiple sectors and benefiting various categories of the Sudanese society, particularly the most vulnerable.
They also demonstrate the UAE’s desire to provide a comprehensive humanitarian response to the crisis, covering affected civilians inside and outside Sudan, including refugees and displaced persons in neighboring countries.
These agreements also show the UAE’s concern for ensuring the sustainability of the benefits of this aid by directing it to important sectors for the Sudanese population, such as agriculture.
Not content with announcing last April additional humanitarian support of 100 million US dollars to Sudan, the UAE ensured to manage this aid optimally, announcing last June 17 that they would allocate 70 million US dollars of this support to UN agencies and humanitarian organizations to support humanitarian efforts in Sudan, while 30 million US dollars will be allocated to neighboring countries hosting Sudanese refugees.
The UAE’s aid to Sudan and neighboring countries comes within the framework of the continuous commitment of the Emirati leadership to provide humanitarian and emergency
support to the brotherly Sudanese people, and the UAE’s special interest in humanitarian challenges, as well as their commitment to continue extending a helping hand and providing humanitarian assistance.
Wise Vision
From the beginning of the crisis in Sudan to this day, the UAE and its leaders have tirelessly worked to find ways to end the escalation.
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, has repeatedly affirmed his country’s firm stance on this issue, notably during a phone conversation with General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan last June 5.
During this conversation, the UAE President emphasized the importance of prioritizing Sudan’s supreme interests, stopping the escalation, returning to dialogue, prioritizing the political path, and achieving national consensus to ensure Sudan’s security and stability.
The UAE has repeatedly stressed the need to respect international humanitarian law, particularly in their speeches and messages to the UN.
Last April, the United Nations Security Council held a special session to discuss the situation in Sudan, during which the UAE emphasized the importance of protecting civilians and ensuring the safety of humanitarian workers.
They also urged all parties to take the necessary measures to ensure the safety and security of humanitarian workers and allow their access to people in need.
The UAE called on all parties to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law and immediately end hostilities.
Last May, the UAE’s Permanent Mission to the UN organized a meeting on the humanitarian situation in Sudan, attended by ambassadors of Security Council member states and other permanent missions.
The meeting was chaired by the UAE’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Lana Nusseibeh, and highlighted the UAE’s humanitarian efforts to alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people.
Mediation Efforts
The importance of the UAE President’s messages also lies in the continuous efforts of his country to find a solution to the crisis through mediation.
The UAE has participated in numerous international meetings and conferences to discuss the situation in Sudan and has contributed to regional and international mediation efforts to resolve the crisis.
The UAE has particularly supported the peace initiative led by the African Union and has contributed to the implementation of several peace agreements between Sudanese parties.
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They have also hosted several dialogue meetings between Sudanese parties, as part of their commitment to supporting peace and stability in Sudan.
In conclusion, the messages of the UAE President and the continuous efforts of his country to resolve the crisis in Sudan demonstrate their firm commitment to supporting the Sudanese people and working for peace and stability in the region.
