Sudan cuts ties with UAE following Port Sudan drone attacks

Smoke rises after explosions at South Port of the city of Port Sudan following drone attacks (Stringer/Anadolu via Getty)

Sudan has officially cut diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), accusing the Gulf nation of backing the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) responsible for recent drone attacks on Port Sudan, including its only operational international airport.

The Sudanese army reported intercepting drones targeting the Flamingo naval base in Port Sudan, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict. According to Reuters, the RSF’s drone strikes have damaged critical infrastructure, including fuel depots and humanitarian aid routes, exacerbating the country’s humanitarian crisis.

Sudan’s Defense Minister Yassin Ibrahim

Sudan’s Defense Minister Yassin Ibrahim condemned the UAE’s alleged support for the RSF, stating that such actions violate Sudanese sovereignty. He announced the severance of diplomatic ties and the cancellation of a $6 billion port development deal with the UAE, emphasizing that Sudan would not cede any part of its coastline.

The UAE has denied supplying weapons to the RSF and has not commented on the severance of diplomatic relations. The international community, including the United Nations, has expressed concern over the escalating violence and its impact on humanitarian efforts in Sudan. 

The Associated Press, meanwhile, reports that the conflict between Sudan’s military and the RSF, which began in April 2023, has resulted in over 24,000 deaths and displaced around 13 million people. The recent developments mark a significant deterioration in Sudan-UAE relations and raise concerns about regional stability in the Horn of Africa.