Sudan ambassador urges UK to curb UAE support for RSF

Sudan's ambassador to the UK has called on Britain to rein in United Arab Emirates support for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia, as the civil war in Sudan enters its fourth year. The appeal comes amid mounting evidence that the UAE is arming the RSF in exchange for access to Sudan's gold supplies, a claim the UAE denies.

The ambassador's plea was made during a visit to the Sudanese Community Center in West London, where the war remains a daily concern for the diaspora. The conflict, which began in April 2019, has killed hundreds of thousands of civilians and forced up to 14 million people from their homes, according to estimates.

Speaking to Sky News, the ambassador stressed that Britain has a special role to play. "We have much in common and expect them to help us in this war," he said. "This war cannot be ended with words preventing the militia from being armed and being provided with the capability of continuing atrocities and threatening the lives and well-being of our people."

The UAE has consistently denied any military involvement in Sudan, but evidence gathered by researchers and human rights groups continues to contradict that position. The conflict has become a proxy battle, with regional powers backing different sides. The RSF, which grew out of the Janjaweed militias, has been accused of widespread atrocities.

Members of the Sudanese community in London are convinced that outside interference is prolonging the war. One restaurant owner, Imad, said: "They are the main supplier. They wanted the gold everything from Sudan." He added that the war would end quickly if Britain and America stopped supporting the UAE.

Diplomats at the UAE embassy have said they condemn atrocities committed by all warring parties and stress the need for accountability. Yet the ambassador's call to Britain highlights the growing frustration among Sudanese officials over the international community's failure to stem the flow of arms to the RSF.

Without concerted action from outside powers, the suffering of Sudanese civilians is likely to deepen. The war has already created one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, with millions facing food insecurity and displacement.