The UAE Mission to the United Nations in Geneva commented on the latest report issued by the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission in Sudan, reiterating that it is not a party to the ongoing civil war in the country.
This came in a statement by the UAE mission, in which it stressed “the importance that the UAE attaches to the work of the investigative mechanisms established by the United Nations, in cases involving serious violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, as a means of enhancing accountability, combating impunity, and enhancing the protection of human rights.”
The UAE mission stressed in its statement that “the UAE is not a party to the ongoing civil war in Sudan, and that it has not provided weapons or any related equipment to any party in Sudan since the outbreak of the conflict in April 2023. The UAE also renews its condemnation in the strongest terms of violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law committed by the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, and the UAE renews its commitment to fulfilling its obligations under the sanctions regime established by the United Nations Security Council, Including all sanctions measures imposed on individuals and entities listed on the sanctions lists, it also stresses the importance of expanding the scope of the arms embargo to include the entire territory of Sudan, and stopping all forms of external military support to the warring parties, without exception.
She added: "The UAE continues its call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, an urgent humanitarian truce, and the launch of a comprehensive, civilian-led political process, independent of both parties to the conflict and extremist groups. The UAE mission stresses the need to carefully evaluate the allegations, based on an objective, neutral and evidence-based methodology, relying on information that has been carefully verified, verified independently, and evaluated according to consistent standards of proof. The UAE mission stressed its commitment to continuing the dialogue." Al-Banna with the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission in Sudan.
Highlights of the report of the international fact-finding mission in Sudan:
The report, titled “Fueling Conflict in Sudan: Weapons, Fighters and External Support Networks,” highlights “how transnational entities operating in a number of countries have recruited, trained and deployed foreign personnel to support the Rapid Support Forces, as well as facilitating the transfer of weapons, ammunition, military technology and providing logistical support.” The report also concludes that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the Sudanese Armed Forces used foreign-supplied drones in operations that harmed civilians. And civilian objects, and states linked to these supply chains have strict international legal obligations to exercise due diligence, investigate and halt mercenary and illicit supply networks operating from or through their territories, prevent violations, and enforce the United Nations arms embargo.”
The report added: “The mission documented the deployment of up to two thousand former Colombian military contractors who were directly involved in operating combat drones, artillery, and advanced weapons, alongside Rapid Support Forces units in Darfur and Kordofan.”
The report concluded, “There are reasonable grounds to believe that private entities, logistical intermediaries, and recruiters operating from countries, including Colombia and the United Arab Emirates, used transit points in Chad, southeastern Libya, and Bosaso, Somalia, to facilitate the delivery of personnel, training, weapons, and logistical supplies to the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan.”
The report also concluded that “foreign suppliers have greatly enhanced the capabilities of the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces in the field of drones, enabling them to launch strikes far from the front lines. Documented drone attacks included strikes carried out by the Rapid Support Forces in Kaloki, South Kordofan State, which resulted in the deaths of 114 people, including about 60 children, and strikes carried out by the Sudanese Armed Forces in Al-Daein in East Darfur state, which resulted in the death of at least 70 people and the destruction of a main hospital.
