Sudan: What Does the UAE Want? | With Emirati Dr. Abdulkhaleq Abdulla

In this episode of the Egyptian podcast “What’s the Solution?” (see link below), Egyptian Dr. Rabab El-Mahdi discusses her Emirati guest, Dr. Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, a political science professor at UAE University, about his country’s foreign policy. At minute 57:31, Rabab brings up the Sudanese war, leading to the following dialogue with a rare on-screen frankness about “UN reports” and rights organizations accusing the UAE of supporting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Abdulla responds by refuting these claims, citing the lack of conclusive evidence, pointing to other countries’ support for the RSF, and what he sees as obstinacy from Sudanese army commander Al-Burhan and his use of chemical weapons amid a suspicious and biased media silence that focuses its fierce campaign solely on the UAE. The discussion extends to include UAE investments in Africa and accusations of “neocolonialism,” turning into an intense confrontation over truth and denial, neutrality and animosity.

https://youtu.be/eiid5mom4QY?si=witN4oY5WyMkyeDV

Rabab:

Let’s talk about Sudan. I hope here that you set aside diplomacy, gaslighting, and denial. Because I will speak based on the UN expert panel’s report about UAE support for the RSF, and other recurrent reports that the UAE denies. It’s like the story of “The Emperor’s New Clothes” that everyone saw as naked while he denied it. What is the UAE doing in Sudan?

Abdulkhaleq:

Well, setting aside the emperor’s new clothes and gaslighting. It seems the whole session is an accusation of the UAE in Yemen and Sudan. That’s fine, it’s good to open all these files. I won’t make excuses, but I will explain to the viewer and those interested.

Sudan has a presence in the UAE comparable to its presence in Egypt. Since the 1960s, we have relied on Sudanese people, and our relations have been good in many fields, including the military. Therefore, the second-largest Sudanese community outside Sudan, after Egypt, is in the UAE. For this reason, the UAE was trying to help Sudan during the rule of Numeiry, Al-Bashir, and others.

First, fairness is good. The RSF is supported by Uganda, Ethiopia, Chad, and others, especially Ethiopia, where they have a camp, and some claim without evidence that this camp is Emirati. Hemedti was received in Uganda like a head of state! So the UAE is not the sole supporter to be singled out for all these accusations. South Sudan is the biggest supporter of the RSF, to spite Al-Burhan. So, Doctor, you must distance yourself from accusing the UAE alone as the sole supporter of the RSF.

Second, the RSF constitutes half of the Sudanese army (also mentioned in the “Stories” podcast by Sudanese politician Khalid Omar), and they seized over 60% of the weapons in Khartoum. So the RSF doesn’t need weapons and military equipment; it is self-sufficient, possesses gold, and can act like a state.

Third, there are two parties to this conflict: the army led by Al-Burhan, and the RSF led by Hemedti. During a thousand days of this battle, this senseless war, this humanitarian tragedy, the party insisting on continuing the war is not Hemedti, but Al-Burhan, or rather the Islamists entrenched in the army, who have no interest in reconciliation between Hemedti and Al-Burhan (as attested by Sudanese politician Khalid Omar on the “Stories” podcast). Responding to the Jeddah and Geneva meetings and the efforts of the Arab quartet, we find the RSF is ready to stop the war, but Al-Burhan is unable. So blame must fall on Al-Burhan!

Fourth, Al-Burhan has used chemical weapons against his own people. So why is he not singled out as a war criminal?

Fifth, as we speak, seven countries are supporting the Sudanese army, which is not a national army, but the remnants after the RSF split from it. These countries support someone committing war crimes and using chemical weapons, yet no one pays them attention or questions them! The UAE is not alone in this war, Doctor. So why is it always the UAE, the UAE, as if there’s no one else in the world?!

Rabab:

Exactly! But why does the UAE support the RSF, among other countries?

Abdulkhaleq:

Now I will respond as an Emirati citizen, not as an academic. I have reviewed most of these reports, including two UN expert reports, Report 23 and Report 25. In the first report (23), the UN experts talk about “allegations” and confirm nothing. In Report 25, they don’t even use the word “allegations” (Definition of Allegation: is an unproven claim or statement that warrant further investigation).

Rabab:

Report 23, on page 17, speaks of repeated and frequent witness testimonies about trucks of weapons and supplies coming from the UAE!

Abdulkhaleq:

The experts didn’t see anything themselves; they cited three sources. The first source is a Belgian human rights organization that went and made the claim. If we scrutinize this source that news agencies picked up, we find it’s an unknown source, I’ve never heard of it! The second source is a Sudanese rights organization. None of these sources are reliable. But have credible parties — like the US, Britain, or EU countries — come out and said the UAE is doing such and such?! Even Egypt has never said the UAE finances and arms the RSF.

Rabab:

Not everything known is said! We don’t know what’s said behind closed doors.

Abdulkhaleq:

Let’s leave aside what is or isn’t said behind doors. Regarding think tanks, not long ago I sat with colleagues for two hours at Al-Ahram in the American University, and Dr. Amani didn’t mention any of this!

Rabab:

So, you trust Dr. Amani because she didn’t mention it, but you don’t trust a Sudanese or Belgian center because they did? I’m citing institutions like the International Crisis Group.

Abdulkhaleq:

I’ve reviewed International Crisis Group reports, and they never, ever mentioned anything of the sort. I know the person responsible for the Yemen file there, I’ve met him, and he never said any of this!

Rabab:

But they mentioned in their Africa reports that there are allegations.

Abdulkhaleq:

Let’s leave allegations aside!

Rabab:

Are you trying to say the UAE does not support the RSF?

Abdulkhaleq:

I trust my country, which went to the United Nations and repeatedly and unequivocally affirmed that it does not support the RSF. Now you have allegations from organizations and journalists, and you have official statements from the UAE. Who do you believe?

Rabab:

Naturally, I would believe independent sources.

Abdulkhaleq:

As an Emirati and an independent person, I accept my country’s narrative and do not accept allegations from unknown organizations.

Rabab:

What is the UAE’s vision for Sudan?

Abdulkhaleq:

The UAE’s vision for Sudan is part of its vision for the African continent, which suffers from tyranny and corruption. The UAE has contributed to supporting the continent humanely and nationally since its inception. At the same time, the UAE sees Africa as a promising continent with its resources and bounty, so it invests there. This is our vision: balancing support and investment. As for Sudan, it has immense agricultural potential and more, and the UAE invests there, just like Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

In 2019, after the coup that toppled Al-Bashir and brought in the military, the UAE was arranging Sudanese affairs and managing most of the dialogues between Al-Burhan and Hamdok. Civilians and the military trusted us, until the military turned against the civilian government.

Rabab:

So, you are responsible for their success but not their failure?

Abdulkhaleq:

Again, we are not responsible for success or failure. We came as supporters when others were busy with themselves, while the UAE sat steadfast and capable of giving.

Rabab:

Some see your vision as thoroughly colonial, through buying agricultural land to secure your food needs and investing in carbon markets. All of this is a new form of colonialism, and I adopt this view.

Abdulkhaleq:

Is the UAE the only one in Africa? China is there, as are France, Russia, Europe, and every country in the world, not just the UAE! China has an even greater presence, yet no one accuses China of being a colonial power. I wish you, Doctor, would not adopt this thinking! Whoever sees the UAE with ill intent will see all good as evil, turning generosity and investment into malice!

Rabab:

The white man also colonized while claiming to help others!

Abdulkhaleq:

Let’s leave the white man aside! We are facing a case where the UAE is accused of colonialism because of its investments in Africa, while China, Russia, and others are not accused despite having larger investments! The UAE is the third-largest investor in Africa, with investments totalling $110 billion. Africa needs to develop its infrastructure and mines, and it has vast agricultural lands.