Sudanese army understands grim irony as UAE protests attack on ambassador’s house in Khartoum

Alameen Templeton

Sudan is denying United Arab Emirates accusations that its forces have bombed its ambassador’s residence in Khartoum, pointing instead at the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The standoff over the attack is trespassing on stand-up comedy territory because the UAE is widely seen as the main backer of the RSF, a claim the UAE strenuously denies, but is believed by most independent observers of the civil war.

The UAE on Monday said the “heinous attack” on the diplomatic post was performed by a Sudanese military aircraft.

Khartoum, which is in the midst of a new push to retake the capital, has previously accused the UAE of supporting the RSF.

“The UAE has called on the army to assume full responsibility for this cowardly act,” the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

Describing the attack as a “flagrant violation of the fundamental principle of the inviolability of diplomatic premises”, the ministry said it would send complaints to the League of Arab States, the African Union and the United Nations.

In reply, the Sudanese military blamed the RSF for carrying out these “shameful and cowardly acts”.

In a clear dig at its adversary, the army said “it does not target the headquarters of diplomatic missions, United Nations agencies or voluntary organisations and does not turn them into military bases and loot their assets.

“The one that carries out these heinous and cowardly actions is the terrorist, rebel militia (RSF)… supported in committing all this by countries known to the world,” the army said.

In June, Sudan’s ambassador to the United Nations, al-Harith Idriss al-Harith Mohamed, that financial and military assistance from the UAE to the RSF was the “main reason behind this protracted war”.

The UAE denied the allegations as “disinformation”, saying its efforts were focused on de-escalation and alleviating Sudan’s suffering.

However, UN monitors say the accusations of UAE support of the RSF as credible.

It says nearly 25 million people – half of Sudan’s population – need aid, famine is looming and some 8 million people are homeless.

Heavy clashes have raged in several parts of Khartoum in recent days as government forces press an assault aimed at retaking Khartoum.