uae: Criticism vs. Reality

UAE's Sudan "Mistake"? More Like a Calculated Disaster

Alright, so the UAE is suddenly admitting they "made a mistake" in Sudan? Give me a break. This isn't some innocent oopsie; it's a calculated disaster they actively fueled.

The "Oops, We Armed a Militia" Defense

Anwar Gargash, the UAE's senior diplomatic envoy, is out there saying they screwed up by not sanctioning the guys who launched the 2021 coup. Oh, really? You think maybe backing power-hungry generals who overthrew a civilian government was a bad call?

Let's be real: the UAE wasn't just standing by. They were actively undermining the idea of a civilian government, pushing for Hemedti—the RSF commander—to be in charge of, get this, economic policy. Like putting a fox in charge of the henhouse. And now they're acting all surprised that things went south?

And don't even get me started on the "bailout diplomacy." Saudi Arabia and the UAE ponied up a $3 billion loan to the military council, then cut off the money when the civilian side gained some traction. Jonas Horner is right: that loan loss was a direct line to the coup and the civil war. So, yeah, "mistake" is one word for it. I've got others.

Denials, Deflections, and Darfur

The UAE's response to the growing pile of evidence that they were covertly arming the RSF? A total denial. They're claiming they're the victims of a disinformation campaign. It's always someone else's fault, right?

The Biden administration slapped sanctions on Hemedti and some UAE-based companies funding him, but the UAE just keeps insisting they want a civilian-led government. Lana Nusseibeh says they're a "neutral party" trying to mediate a return to the good old days of 2019... before they helped blow it all up.

Here's the thing: Sudanese civilian groups were warning for over a year that the RSF would commit mass killings if they took El Fasher. And who had the most leverage to stop Hemedti? The UAE. Did they use it? Nope. Now they're blaming the army for failing to compromise. Classic.

Yasmine Ahmed at Human Rights Watch says the UAE needs to cooperate with the UN on the arms embargo. Cameron Hudson nails it: "What we see is a complete and total denial by the UAE authorities they have any role or involvement whatsoever in this conflict." Until we can agree on basic facts, how can anything be resolved? And are we even supposed to believe they want it resolved if it hurts their bottom line?

It's All About the Gold (and the Ports, and the Power...)

The UAE's interest in Sudan isn't about altruism; it's about resources and power. They want access to Sudan's agriculture, livestock, and mineral resources. Sudan's strategic location on the Red Sea makes it a prime spot to build ports. Remember that $6 billion deal for the Abu Amama port? Yeah, that got canceled, but you know they're itching to revive it.

And then there's the gold. Sudan's gold reserves are crucial, not just for the RSF and the army, but for the UAE. Gold makes up almost half of Sudan's exports. An estimated 90% of Sudan's gold production—around $13.4 billion worth—is smuggled out of the country, often ending up in the UAE. The UAE continues to profit from Sudan's conflict gold. Offcourse, they do. As criticism grows, is UAE ready to walk away from Sudan’s RSF militia?

But it's not just about the money. The UAE is also trying to contain Islamism, which they see as a threat. So, they backed Hemedti, who sent RSF troops to Yemen to support the Emirati and Saudi forces. Politics and profit, always a winning combination for these guys.

Now that their support for the RSF is a PR nightmare, the US hopes the UAE and Egypt can collectively pressure their proxies into a ceasefire. A joint statement was agreed upon, setting out a course for a truce and a civilian-led government. But talks in Washington haven't gone anywhere. Maybe it'll take more senior US officials to get these guys to stop fighting. Or maybe... maybe they just don't want to stop.

So, What's the Real Story?

The UAE's "mistake" wasn't a mistake at all. It was a calculated gamble that blew up in their face. They bet on the wrong horse (or, more accurately, the most brutal horse) and now they're trying to clean up the mess while still grabbing as much gold as they can. Don't expect them to change their ways anytime soon.