UAE Promises No Arms to Sudan's RSF

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has assured the United States that it will not supply weapons to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan, a commitment communicated to U.S. lawmakers amidst concerns over UAE's involvement in Sudan's civil conflict. This promise comes after U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen and Representative Sara Jacobs pushed for legislation to block $1.2 billion in arms sales to the UAE until it could be verified that they were not arming the RSF. The White House, via Brett McGurk, stated the UAE's assurances and committed to assessing their credibility by January 17, 2024. The ongoing conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and millions displaced since it escalated in April 2023. Lawmakers expressed their intent to monitor the situation closely and will act to block arms sales if the UAE fails to comply. The UAE has continuously denied accusations of supporting the RSF despite allegations from various sources, including UN experts.