UAE invitation to high-level aid conference in London sparks outrage from Sudan army gov’t

The United Kingdom’s decision to invite the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to an upcoming London conference on Sudan’s humanitarian crisis has drawn sharp criticism from Sudan’s army-aligned government.
The conference, scheduled for 15 April, aims to address the escalating humanitarian crisis in Sudan, which has displaced millions and led to widespread famine. However, the absence of Sudan’s army government from the talks, while the UAE is included, has sparked outrage in Khartoum. The Sudanese government, which controls the army, has accused the UK of sidelining the country’s official authorities by not inviting them to the event under the pretext that they are a “warring party.” Ironically, the UAE, a key supporter of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group involved in the conflict, has been invited despite its complicity in prolonging the war.
Sudan’s foreign ministry expressed concerns that the UAE’s participation would reduce the conference to little more than a “public relations stunt,” especially given the UAE’s ongoing supply of arms and resources to the RSF. The exclusion of Sudan’s official government is seen as a blow to the country’s diplomatic efforts, particularly as the UK had previously engaged with Sudanese officials in Port Sudan. However, according to the Middle East Eye, representatives of Qatar, Egypt, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, all of whom are known to favor the Sudanese army over the RSF, will take part in the conference. The UK Foreign Office has defended its stance, emphasizing the involvement of regional and international stakeholders in a bid to end the war and provide humanitarian aid. As the situation in Sudan remains dire, the UK’s approach has only added another layer of complexity to the ongoing efforts at the conflict resolution.