Patron of peace: How UAE contributed to ending civil war in Sudan after 17 years

Nora Bandari

The United Arab Emirates has not hesitated to put forth all efforts to help countries around the world to solve their political, economic and social crises, seeking to obtain a region free of war where security, peace and stability prevail. In this regard, the UAE had a role in ending the civil war in Sudan after 17 years. On August 30, the Sudanese government, Sudanese Revolutionary Front, and some armed movements signed the last papers related to the peace negotiations in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.

UAE role

This agreement will contribute to ending the civil war in Sudan and establishing autonomous-rule for the Blue Nile and South Kordofan regions provided that the resources and income of the two regions are divided by 60% for the federal authority and 40% for the local authorities.

Sudanese Sovereignty Council member Shams El Din Kabbashi noted that many Arab and regional countries contributed to reaching the peace agreement, led by the UAE and Chad, according to Sudanese media.

For his part, Khaled Saif Al-Shamsi, the UAE official tasked with the Sudan file, confirmed in a tweet that the UAE sent a delegation to sponsor the peace process in Sudan, pointing out that the Emirati delegation continued to follow the negotiations in Juba until the two parties reached a peace agreement.

The UAE has always worked to support regional countries gain security and stability, at a time when several countries, led by Qatar and Turkey, rejected the political transition process in Sudan, considering it a coup against legitimacy. But the UAE stood firm and thwarted these malicious Brotherhood attempts by Ankara and Doha, declaring their support for the will of the Sudanese people seeking change.

Abu Dhabi had previously supported the agreement reached by the Sudanese government on July 5, 2019 regarding the transitional phase, stressing the need for this agreement to contribute to a new phase dominated by security and stability and to achieve the aspirations of the Sudanese people. This was confirmed by many Sudanese leaders, who announced that the UAE has always supported the process of political accommodation between the Sudanese parties, and even contributed to achieving it, by playing a key role in achieving reconciliation between the Sudanese parties and reaching an agreement on the transitional period.

Abu Dhabi and Sudan’s transitional phase

Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, met with the Sudanese leadership headed by Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok in August 2019. He stressed the need to establish dialogue between the Sudanese parties in order to achieve harmony and enhance Sudan’s stability.

On August 18, 2019, prior to the final signing of the constitutional declaration document in Khartoum, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash announced that his country supports the political and constitutional transition process in Sudan, stressing that the UAE government will continue to work with the Sudanese government to reach a stable and prosperous Sudan.

It should be noted that the UAE has strategic relations with Sudan based on cooperation in all economic and developmental fields, which has contributed to achieving progress, prosperity and security in Sudan. This comes within the framework of Abu Dhabi’s constant keenness to achieve stability and peace in the African country.

Sudanese media and activists reacted to their country’s peace agreement and paid special attention to the role of the UAE in sponsoring it. Some pointed out that Abu Dhabi allocated more than $1 billion to support the transitional phase in Sudan, as well as having directed 50,000 tons of agricultural fertilizer to help farmers. The UAE also helped Sudan to confront the corona pandemic by supplying it with about 7 tons of medical supplies to help the health sector in the country.

Some Sudanese activists confirmed on Twitter that thanks to the UAE’s efforts and constant promises to achieve lasting peace in the region, Sudan and all parties signed the peace agreement in order to spread security, stability and peace.