Sudan-UAE tensions deepen after reported airstrike on Emirati aircraft in Darfur
Relations between Sudan and the United Arab Emirates have plunged deeper into crisis after reports emerged that the Sudanese air force shot down an Emirati aircraft allegedly carrying foreign mercenaries and military supplies intended for the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The reported incident, which occurred at Nyala International Airport in South Darfur, marks one of the most dramatic escalations yet in the growing confrontation between Khartoum and Abu Dhabi amid Sudan’s devastating civil conflict.
According to Sudanese state media aligned with the military government, the Sudanese air force carried out a surprise aerial bombardment on the runway of Nyala airport early Wednesday morning. Military sources cited in the report claimed the target was a private aircraft believed to have arrived from a Gulf military base carrying Colombian mercenaries and weapons destined for RSF fighters.
Sudanese authorities said the airstrike destroyed the aircraft and killed at least 40 people identified as foreign fighters. The claims have not yet been independently verified, while the United Arab Emirates has not officially responded to the latest accusations.
Nyala airport has increasingly become a focal point in Sudan’s conflict, with the Sudanese army repeatedly accusing the UAE of using the facility to funnel arms, logistical support and foreign fighters to the RSF, the powerful paramilitary group battling the national army for control of the country.
The Sudanese military, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has over recent months intensified accusations against Abu Dhabi, alleging direct interference in Sudan’s internal war. Tensions reached a breaking point in May when Sudan’s Security and Defence Council officially severed diplomatic ties with the UAE and labelled the Gulf nation a “state of aggression.”
International observers have also raised concerns about alleged external involvement in the Sudan conflict. Reports by United Nations experts, U.S. officials and humanitarian organisations have repeatedly pointed to accusations of arms flows and foreign support networks linked to the RSF, although the UAE has consistently denied backing either side in the war.
The latest developments now threaten to widen the regional implications of Sudan’s conflict, which has already displaced millions of people and triggered one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
UAE moves against Sudanese airlines amid diplomatic fallout
The tensions have also spilled into the aviation sector, with Sudanese authorities accusing the UAE of imposing restrictions on Sudanese airlines in what many observers see as retaliation linked to the escalating dispute.
Read alsoSaudi Arabia Condemns ‘Foreign Interference’ in Sudan Following Deadly RSF Attacks
Sudan’s Civil Aviation Authority announced that Emirati authorities had barred all Sudanese aircraft from landing at airports across the UAE. The authority also disclosed that a Sudanese passenger plane was recently prevented from departing from Abu Dhabi, highlighting the rapid deterioration in transport and diplomatic relations between the two countries.
According to reports from Sudan Tribune, officials at Sudanese carriers Badr Airlines and Tarco Aviation said UAE aviation authorities blocked their flights to and from Dubai and Sharjah without prior notice or explanation.
The sudden restrictions reportedly caused major disruptions for passengers, particularly after travellers on a Tarco flight had already completed boarding and departure procedures before the flight was halted.
Sudanese authorities say they are now working with airlines to reorganise flight schedules and assist stranded passengers travelling between Sudan and the Gulf region.
Although Emirati authorities have not publicly linked the aviation ban to the Nyala airstrike, analysts believe the move reflects the growing hostility between both governments and signals a new phase in the diplomatic confrontation surrounding Sudan’s ongoing war.
The latest developments underscore the increasingly international dimension of Sudan’s conflict, with regional powers now facing mounting scrutiny over their alleged roles in one of Africa’s most complex and volatile crises.
