Addis Ababa: The Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) has accused the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Sudan. The UAE is reportedly supplying funds and arms to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia, implicating it directly in the ongoing conflict in Sudan. The HAC claims that the UAE is attempting to use humanitarian relief to improve its image, thereby perpetuating these crimes and exploiting institutional immunity to violate international laws and Security Council resolutions.
According to Sudan News Agency, HAC Commissioner-General Salwa Adam Benya expressed regret over a meeting organized and funded by the UAE alongside the African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa. The meeting was purportedly to discuss Sudan’s humanitarian disaster, with participation from Antonio Guterres and Moussa Faki. The HAC views their involvement as an effort to enhance the UAE’s image as a humanitarian actor while concealing its role in the conflict against the Sudanese people.
The statement from the HAC emphasized the need for the United Nations Secretary-General to enforce Security Council Resolution 2736, which calls for the lifting of the siege on El-Fashir and ensuring aid delivery. The RSF militia reportedly continues to violate this resolution, committing severe abuses at Zamzam camp. The HAC criticized the participation of international figures in the UAE-led event, stating it encourages the continuation of the humanitarian disaster in Sudan by supporting a militia that engages in serious violations, including indiscriminate bombings and systematic crimes of sexual violence.
The statement also highlighted the politicization of humanitarian aid, pointing out the involvement of Sudanese politicians and organizations aligned with the RSF militia and the UAE. This alignment, according to the HAC, complicates the humanitarian situation and reduces aid to a political tool in a complex context.
The HAC concluded that the conference necessitates adopting new strategies to preserve national sovereignty and independence. Sudan is determined not to succumb to the agendas of external forces, reiterating its commitment to the principles of neutrality, non-alignment, integrity, and independence in its humanitarian efforts.