The African Union (AU) has strongly opposed any foreign interference in Sudan’s ongoing conflict, following allegations that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been supplying weapons to paramilitary forces battling the Sudanese army.
Speaking on Monday, African Union Commission Chairperson Mahamoud Ali Youssouf reaffirmed the AU’s stance on national sovereignty, saying the organization would not condone involvement by external actors in Sudan’s internal affairs.
“The Commission’s position is that member states are sovereign, and the AU will not accept any interference in the internal affairs of Sudan,” Youssouf stated. “We will not support any intervention or interference in the crisis.”
The conflict between Sudan’s regular army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has raged since April 2023, killing thousands and displacing around 13 million people. The war has deeply destabilized Sudan and raised alarm across the East African region.
Tensions between Sudan and the UAE escalated last week after Khartoum formally cut diplomatic ties with Abu Dhabi, accusing the Gulf state of arming the RSF. Amnesty International echoed the claim, accusing the UAE of violating a United Nations arms embargo, though the UAE has denied the allegations as “baseless.”
Youssouf declined to comment directly on the UAE’s alleged involvement, saying, “It is not the role of the AU to judge. Sudan has made an accusation, and it is up to Sudan to provide the evidence.”
Youssouf, a former foreign minister of Djibouti who assumed his AU leadership role in February, has identified the Sudanese civil war as a top priority amid numerous conflicts across the continent.
The country remains deeply divided, with the army controlling much of central, eastern, and northern Sudan, while the RSF holds sway in most of Darfur and parts of the south. Both sides face accusations of committing war crimes.
Recently, drone strikes—blamed by the army on the RSF—have intensified, including attacks on strategic locations in Port Sudan, which now serves as the government’s temporary base and a key hub for humanitarian aid.
In February, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for an end to the flow of weapons into Sudan, urging all parties and foreign powers to support a peaceful resolution.