The United Arab Emirates has suspended flights to and from Sudan, escalating a diplomatic crisis fueled by Sudanese allegations that the Gulf nation is arming rival forces in the country’s civil war. The move, effective Wednesday, came hours after Sudan’s Foreign Ministry accused the UAE of supplying foreign mercenaries to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has been locked in a year-long conflict with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).
Passengers at Port Sudan International Airport reported abrupt cancellations of flights to Dubai, with Sudanese carrier Badr Airlines informing travelers of the suspension only after they arrived for boarding. Confusion initially surrounded the ban’s scope, with conflicting claims about whether it applied to all airlines or solely Sudanese operators like Badr and Tarco. Sudan’s Civil Aviation Authority later confirmed the suspension targeted its carriers, calling the UAE’s decision “surprising” and noting it further isolates Port Sudan—a critical hub since international airlines, including EgyptAir and Turkish Airlines, halted services in May following drone strikes.
Tensions intensified Wednesday when Sudanese state television aired claims that SAF forces downed an Emirati aircraft allegedly transporting Colombian mercenaries at Nyala Airport in South Darfur. The broadcast asserted 40 foreign fighters were killed, though Radio Dabanga could not independently verify the incident. Colombian President Gustavo Petro acknowledged the reports on social media, stating he had directed diplomats to investigate “unconfirmed” accounts of Colombian casualties.
The flight ban marks the latest rupture in relations between Khartoum and Abu Dhabi. In May, Sudan severed diplomatic ties with the UAE, labeling it an “aggressor state.” Recent weeks have seen escalating accusations: On August 4, Sudan’s Foreign Ministry alleged the UAE facilitated RSF recruitment of fighters from Colombia and other nations, claiming to possess documents proving Abu Dhabi’s involvement. A day earlier, the SAF released footage purportedly showing abandoned equipment and evidence implicating foreign backers of the RSF.
The UAE has categorically denied the allegations, dismissing them as “feeble media stunts” meant to deflect blame for prolonging the war. In a statement, its foreign ministry urged a ceasefire and reaffirmed support for a civilian-led peace process, citing the International Court of Justice’s rejection of a prior Sudanese complaint and a UN expert panel’s report that found no evidence of Emirati involvement. However, a leaked draft of the UN report, obtained by The Guardian in April, described “multiple” UAE-linked flights to Chad that allegedly evaded detection while transporting supplies near Sudan’s border—details absent from the final version.
The conflict’s international dimensions have drawn increased scrutiny. Colombian outlet La Silla Vacía reported in 2024 that at least 300 former Colombian soldiers were recruited by the UAE to fight in Sudan, with a commander reportedly killed this week during RSF attempts to seize El Fasher, North Darfur’s capital. As diplomatic channels fray, the flight suspension underscores the widening fallout of a war increasingly shaped by regional rivalries and shadowy foreign interventions.
