A court in the United Arab Emirates has sentenced eight people to life imprisonment for arms trafficking and money laundering to Sudan's army, state media reported on Thursday.
The Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal concluded the individuals participated in an integrated scheme involving the illicit trafficking of weapons, ammunition and military equipment, the Emirati state-run news agency WAM said. They were also found to have forged documents using companies and bank accounts in the UAE to channel funds and conceal their sources. The court ordered the confiscation of ammunition and communications devices and the deportation of the convicts after they serve their sentences. The "arms deals, money laundering endangered UAE interests", the court order said.
The case comes against a backdrop of deteriorating ties between the UAE and Sudan. The Sudanese military has accused Abu Dhabi of supplying arms to its rival, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group, which it has been fighting since April 2023. The UAE has denied the allegation. The war has displaced more than 14 million people and led to severe food shortages. This week, more than 100 people, mostly women and children, were killed when military drones struck a market in Nyala in Darfur. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said a hospital it supports received 36 bodies, 21 in civilian clothing, and its teams saw more than 150 wounded in the emergency room. The UN human rights office has previously accused the RSF of war crimes and a possible crime against humanity in its takeover of el-Fasher.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The sentencing highlights the complex international dimensions of the Sudan conflict, with accusations of foreign arms supplies fueling the civil war.
- The case demonstrates UAE efforts to counter allegations of involvement in the conflict, though it pertains to supplies to the army, not the RSF.
- The ongoing war continues to cause massive displacement and humanitarian suffering, with recent attacks showing the civilian toll.
Background
The UAE and Sudan have had strained ties since the outbreak of Sudan's civil war in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The SAF has repeatedly accused the UAE of providing weapons and support to the RSF, an allegation Abu Dhabi denies. The UAE has positioned itself as a mediator in the conflict. Thursday's sentencing involves arms supplied to the SAF, not the RSF.
Key Perspectives
Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal: The convicted individuals were part of an integrated scheme to illegally traffic weapons and money launder, endangering UAE interests.
Sudanese military: Accuses the UAE of supplying arms to the RSF, its rival in the civil war.
UAE government: Denies supplying arms to the RSF.
What to Watch
- Whether Sudan responds to the convictions, given they involve supplies to its own army.
- Potential impact on diplomatic relations and mediation efforts.
- Developments in the conflict, including possible UN investigations into recent attacks.
Checked
11 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 9 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedThe UAE court sentenced eight people to life for arms trafficking to Sudan’s army.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “A court in the United Arab Emirates has sentenced eight people to life imprisonment over arms trafficking and money laundering to Sudan’s army, state media report.”
- SupportedThe case involved an integrated scheme to supply weapons and launder money.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal concluded on Thursday that the convicted individuals had participated in an integrated scheme for the illicit trafficking of weapons, ammunition and military equipment.”
- Partly supportedSudan’s military accuses the UAE of supporting the RSF.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “the Sudanese military has accused Abu Dhabi of supplying arms to its rival in Sudan’s civil war, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group”
- SupportedState media reported that the court sentenced eight people to life imprisonment on Thursday.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “A court in the United Arab Emirates has sentenced eight people to life imprisonment over arms trafficking and money laundering to Sudan’s army, state media report.”
- SupportedThe Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal found that the individuals participated in the scheme.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal concluded on Thursday that the convicted individuals had participated in an integrated scheme”
- SupportedThe court order said the arms deals and money laundering endangered UAE interests.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “The “arms deals, money laundering endangered UAE interests”, the court order said.”
- SupportedThe Sudanese military accused Abu Dhabi of supplying arms to the RSF, and the UAE denied the allegation.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “the Sudanese military has accused Abu Dhabi of supplying arms to its rival in Sudan’s civil war, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group [...] The UAE has denied the allegation.”
- SupportedMore than 100 people, mostly women and children, were killed when military drones struck a market in Nyala.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “more than 100 people – mostly women and children – were killed when military drones hit a busy city market frequented by RSF fighters in the city of Nyala”
- Partly supportedMSF said its supported hospital received 36 bodies, 21 in civilian clothing, and its teams saw more than 150 wounded in the emergency room.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “MSF said a second attack hit a civilian neighbourhood. MSF said a hospital it supports in Nyala received 36 bodies in the hours after that attack, 21 of them wearing civilian clothing, and its teams saw more than 150 wounded in the emergency room.”
- SupportedThe war has displaced more than 14 million people and led to severe food shortages.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “The war has displaced more than 14 million people and created severe poverty and food shortages.”
- SupportedThe UN human rights office previously accused the RSF of war crimes and a possible crime against humanity in its takeover of el-Fasher.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has previously accused the RSF of carrying out war crimes and a possible crime against humanity in its takeover of el-Fasher”