The Sudanese government has formally called on China to take a clear and immediate stance regarding the reported use of Chinese-manufactured drones by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), accusing the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of violating arms agreements and fueling conflict in Sudan.
In a statement released Thursday, Sudan’s Minister of Information and official government spokesperson, Khalid Aleisir, said Khartoum is demanding China disable the drone operating systems being used by the RSF in attacks across the country. The request follows a series of drone strikes on civilian and military infrastructure, including power stations, airports, and fuel depots.
“We believe that China, as a long-standing partner and friend of Sudan, should act swiftly to uphold its international credibility and ensure its defense technology is not misused,” Aleisir stated.
According to the Sudanese government, Chinese-made drones—some allegedly capable of carrying up to 50 kilograms of explosives and equipped with anti-jamming systems—have been employed by RSF fighters in precision attacks launched from both Sudanese territory and neighboring Chad.
Aleisir accused the UAE of supplying these drones to the RSF in violation of end-user agreements, including the internationally recognized End-User Certificate (EUC) that governs arms exports. He asserted that such transfers not only breach arms contracts but also facilitate grave violations of international humanitarian law, as RSF drone strikes have reportedly targeted hospitals, hotels, and civilian neighborhoods.
The Sudanese government has accused the RSF of using the drones to sabotage critical infrastructure, contributing to widespread power and water shortages, and inflicting mass civilian casualties, including women and children.
“The UAE’s actions undermine the historic and strategic relationship between Sudan and China,” Aleisir said, referencing symbolic ties such as the Friendship Hall in Khartoum, built with Chinese support. He urged Beijing to intervene diplomatically with Abu Dhabi and pressure Emirati authorities to halt arms transfers to the RSF.
Earlier this month, Khartoum severed diplomatic ties with the UAE, declaring it an “aggressor state” following a drone strike on Port Sudan that targeted oil facilities, military bases, a power station, and a civilian hotel.
Sudan’s civil war, which reignited in April 2023 between the national army and the RSF, has left thousands dead and displaced millions. The conflict has increasingly drawn in regional actors, raising concerns of wider instability across the Horn of Africa.
As tensions escalate, Sudan’s call for Chinese intervention adds new pressure on the international community to address foreign involvement in the conflict and the proliferation of combat drones in volatile regions.