Today's Edition
ISIDORA CIRIC (ABU DHABI)
The UAE has been one of the most consistent voices calling for peace in Sudan, using its platform at the United Nations and beyond to advocate for civilians, support humanitarian access and push for a political solution to the conflict.
Over its 2022-2023 term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, the UAE made Sudan a priority issue, delivering dozens of statements that condemned attacks on civilians and infrastructure, warned of famine, and called for a permanent ceasefire. That momentum has continued well into 2024 and 2025, with Emirati diplomats urging the Council not to look away.
"For 699 days, the people of Sudan have been enduring a relentless nightmare," Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the UAE to the UN, Mohamed Abushahab, told the Council two weeks ago.
"699 days filled with attacks on civilians and critical infrastructure, horrific acts of sexual and gender-based violence, and unimaginable trauma scarring an entire generation."
Warning of a Deepening Crisis
Throughout its interventions, the UAE has focused heavily on the war's human cost - not only the growing numbers of dead, injured and displaced, but also the long-term impact on women, children and communities.
"We should not allow the system to fail the Sudanese people. The UN must meet the dire humanitarian needs and be where the people need it most," Abushahab said.
The country has also paired words with action. Since the start of the war, it has provided more than $600 million in aid to Sudan and the surrounding region, funding emergency relief through UN agencies, setting up medical infrastructure, and delivering supplies by air and sea. A portion of that aid has gone to UNFPA to provide health services for Sudanese women and girls subjected to sexual violence.
In June 2024, the UAE signed new agreements with UN agencies to boost its aid, allocating an additional $70 million to emergency response efforts. That followed earlier shipments of more than 2,000 tonnes of relief to Sudan and neighbouring countries, and the establishment of aid coordination offices to support refugees and streamline deliveries.
"The UAE remains steadfast in its commitment to alleviate the humanitarian catastrophe, including through the provision of aid to the people of Sudan on the basis of need, in full accordance with all humanitarian principles, and irrespective of any political considerations," Abushahab added.
Pushing for Inclusion and a Political Solution
At the UN, the UAE has consistently pressed the Council to apply pressure on Sudan's warring parties, prioritise a return to political dialogue and hold perpetrators of sexual violence accountable. It has advocated for a technocratic, civilian-led government with women's full participation, warning that the humanitarian cost of inaction is "simply too high".
"We must not turn a blind eye to the gendered impact of this war, with women and girls representing more than half of those displaced and subjected to widespread sexual violence... All perpetrators of conflict-related sexual violence, in Sudan and around the world, must be held accountable. The UAE unequivocally condemns, in the strongest terms, all forms of sexual violence," Abushahab said in March.
"It is critical that we integrate and promote the perspectives of women and girls in our response."
In late 2024, the UAE led an initiative to amplify Sudanese women's voices within the African Leaders for Peace and Security (ALPS) group. At the same time, it supported regional mediation efforts led by the African Union, IGAD and neighbouring states, and in early 2024 helped host a humanitarian conference that called for a Ramadan truce and renewed efforts towards a political settlement.
While Sudan's conflict has caused immense civilian suffering and created a severe regional crisis, the UAE's position has remained clear: no military solution exists. Instead, the country continues to call for a ceasefire, access for aid, and a credible political process led by civilians.
"The Sudanese people deserve justice and peace; they need an immediate ceasefire, the unhindered flow of humanitarian aid, and a credible political process," the UAE said in a letter to the Council in June 2024.
"The UAE supports all initiatives aimed at ending this conflict, and firmly believes that peace talks should be supported by all those who wish to see a peaceful resolution to the conflict."
A Focus on Economic Stability
The UAE has also repeatedly warned that the crisis in Sudan cannot be resolved without addressing the country's economic collapse.
"Diplomatic efforts in the political process must be accompanied by decisive support to the Sudanese economy," Lana Nusseibeh, Assistant Minister for Political Affairs and Envoy of the Foreign Minister to the EU, told the Council in March 2023.
"Sudan needs international support to be able to develop its own capacity to respond to emergencies and channel critical resources to achieve long-term stability," she added, noting that inflation had reached triple digits and nearly one-third of the population - 15.8 million people - required humanitarian assistance.
In the same briefing, she pointed to Sudan's vulnerability to climate shocks and called for "a comprehensive response enabling climate adaptation and community resilience".
As she put it: "Peace does not occur in a vacuum. The material conditions for progress are critical to addressing inequalities and promoting sustainable peace."
Healthcare Advocacy
Health infrastructure has been among the most affected sectors of the war. In early 2023, Nusseibeh expressed concern about the decimation of the Sudanese healthcare system and the safety of aid workers.
"Almost one third of Sudan's medical facilities are now out of service, while others have come under fire or have been looted. This demonstrates the dangerous conditions that Sudanese medical professionals find themselves in," Nusseibeh said, commending their "heroic" efforts and calling for assurances for their protection.
To assist the growing number of injured, as well as the influx of refugees, the UAE has established two medical facilities near the Chad-Sudan border.
"These field hospitals continue to be a critical lifeline for those in need of medical care," the UAE said in June 2024.
Support Rooted in Long-standing Ties
Throughout its response, the UAE has firmly stressed that its support for Sudan is not just a policy, but a reflection of enduring social and historical bonds. Emirati officials have pointed to the close connections between the two countries, shaped by decades of shared experiences and the presence of a large Sudanese community in the UAE.
"The impacts of this conflict are acutely felt by the large community of Sudanese people in the UAE, who comprise a valued part of our society and who are testament to the deep-rooted relations between our two countries," the June statement added.
And this message has been consistent, with Abushahab highlighting the UAE's "historical bonds with the Sudanese people" in December 2024.
"We will continue to stand by them," he added.
