The United Arab Emirates announced on April 26, 2025, that it intercepted a shipment of weapons destined for Sudan’s military, uncovering a smuggling operation aimed at fueling the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). 

The operation, reported by BBC and Al Jazeera, involved seizing 500 tons of arms, including artillery shells and small arms, at Port Sudan, hidden in cargo labeled as humanitarian aid. The UAE’s Ministry of Defence linked the shipment to a regional network supplying the SAF, violating UN arms embargoes.

The interception follows a 2024 UN report accusing the UAE of arming the RSF, which it denied, prompting heightened port surveillance, per BBC. The seized weapons, originating from a Gulf state, were intended to bolster SAF positions in Khartoum, where fighting has displaced 7 million since April 2023, per UNHCR. The UAE’s Foreign Minister, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, said the operation demonstrates commitment to UN Resolution 2636, banning arms transfers to Sudan, per Al Jazeera. Three foreign nationals were arrested, with investigations ongoing, per The Guardian.

Sudan’s war, pitting SAF leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan against RSF’s Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, has killed 20,000 and triggered famine risks for 25 million, per WHO. The UAE, a key humanitarian donor with $450 million in Sudan aid since 2023, faces scrutiny over its regional influence, per The New York Times. The interception aligns with U.S.-led talks in Geneva to enforce Sudan’s arms embargo, with 80% of weapons entering via Red Sea ports, per UN estimates. The UAE’s action may ease tensions with Western allies, per BBC.

The operation highlights the UAE’s strategic role in the Horn of Africa, balancing diplomacy and security, per The Guardian. Sudan’s government welcomed the seizure but urged broader sanctions on arms suppliers, per Al Jazeera. The UAE plans to share intelligence with the UN Security Council, with a report due in June 2025, per BBC. The incident underscores the complexity of Sudan’s conflict, where external actors exacerbate violence, delaying peace efforts and deepening the humanitarian crisis.