Saudi Arabia Condemns ‘Foreign Interference’ in Sudan Following Deadly RSF Attacks
Saudi Arabia has strongly reaffirmed its support for Sudan’s territorial unity and sovereignty, condemning what it described as “criminal and unjustifiable attacks” carried out by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan’s North and South Kordofan states. The attacks, which reportedly killed dozens of civilians, including women and children, have intensified international concern over the worsening humanitarian crisis in the war-torn country.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounced what it called “foreign interference” in Sudan’s internal affairs, accusing unnamed parties of fuelling the nearly three-year-long conflict through the continued flow of illegal weapons, mercenaries and foreign fighters. The ministry said such actions were prolonging the war and undermining efforts to reach a political settlement, though it stopped short of identifying the actors involved.
The Saudi statement followed reports from the Sudan Doctors Network, a humanitarian organisation, which said an RSF drone strike on a vehicle transporting displaced families in North Kordofan killed at least 24 people, including eight children. The incident was described as part of a broader pattern of attacks targeting civilian infrastructure and humanitarian operations in the region.
According to humanitarian groups, the drone strike came amid a wave of RSF raids on aid convoys and fuel trucks across North Kordofan. On Friday, a convoy operated by the World Food Programme (WFP) was attacked, resulting in at least one death and further disrupting the delivery of life-saving assistance to vulnerable communities.
Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also weighed in on Saturday, condemning the attacks and warning that the deliberate targeting of humanitarian assets constituted a “grave violation of international humanitarian law”. In a statement, the ministry said such actions were part of a systematic strategy by the RSF to obstruct relief efforts and use hunger and deprivation as tools of pressure against civilians.
“These attacks do not represent isolated incidents,” the ministry said. “They reflect a sustained pattern aimed at undermining humanitarian work and denying civilians access to food and essential supplies.” Khartoum called on the international community to take urgent steps to hold the RSF and its alleged supporters accountable.
Fighting between the RSF and Sudan’s national army has escalated sharply across the Kordofan region in recent months, particularly following the paramilitary group’s capture of el-Fasher in October. The conflict, which erupted in April 2023, has claimed an estimated 40,000 lives and forced more than 21 million people, nearly half of Sudan’s population, into acute food insecurity, according to international agencies.
Reiterating its position, Saudi Arabia said the RSF’s actions constituted “flagrant violations of humanitarian norms and international agreements”. The foreign ministry urged the group to immediately cease its attacks, respect its humanitarian obligations, and allow the safe passage of relief aid in line with international law and the ceasefire framework agreed by the warring parties in Jeddah in 2023.
The Saudi statement also pointed to what it described as the duplicity of certain actors who, while publicly advocating for a political solution in Sudan, were allegedly supplying arms and fighters to prolong the conflict.
The remarks come amid ongoing allegations by Sudan’s government that the United Arab Emirates has been providing military and financial support to the RSF. Last year, Sudan filed a case against the UAE at the International Court of Justice, accusing it of complicity in acts of genocide committed by the RSF against the Masalit community in West Darfur. The UAE has firmly denied the accusations.
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Tensions between regional allies have also spilled into other conflict zones. Separately, Saudi Arabia has accused the UAE of backing Yemen’s separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC), which launched a major offensive in December across Hadramout and al-Mahra provinces in a bid to establish an independent southern state. The offensive fractured Yemen’s internationally recognised government and prompted Saudi Arabia to carry out air raids against STC positions.
The UAE later withdrew its forces from Yemen following the Saudi accusations, stating that it remained committed to supporting Saudi Arabia’s security interests. Both countries were previously key members of the Arab military coalition formed to counter the Iran-aligned Houthi movement, which seized control of Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, in 2015.
As the war in Sudan grinds on, Saudi Arabia’s latest intervention underscores growing regional alarm over the conflict’s humanitarian toll and the role of external actors in sustaining one of the world’s most devastating crises.
