US senators urge Rubio to halt arms sales to UAE over Sudan conflict

A group of 21 US senators has called on Secretary of State Marco Rubio to suspend certain US arms sales to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), citing its alleged military support for Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

In an August 3 letter led by Senator Tim Kaine, the lawmakers voiced concern over a looming RSF siege of the Sudanese city of El Obeid, warning that the situation could lead to a repeat of the mass atrocities seen in El Fasher last October, Caliber.Az reports, citing Sudan Tribune.

"While we welcome the State Department's expression of concern about the escalating situation in El Obeid, words are not enough," the senators wrote.

According to them, the United States must use the leverage and influence at its disposal to prevent further atrocities in El Obeid and help bring this brutal war in Sudan to an end.

The senators urged the Trump administration to take concrete measures, including suspending arms sales to external actors fueling the conflict, specifically identifying the UAE as the RSF's principal foreign backer.

An estimated 500,000 civilians are currently at risk in El Obeid, many of whom previously fled RSF attacks across the Kordofan region.

Following recent gains in North Kordofan state, the Sudanese army released footage showing large stockpiles of heavy weaponry, including drones and ammunition, ahead of a planned offensive on El Obeid.

The lawmakers cited reports and intelligence alleging UAE involvement, including findings by Human Rights Watch that the Gulf state trained Colombian mercenaries fighting alongside the RSF and evidence of secret training camps in Ethiopia allegedly financed by Abu Dhabi.

Among the signatories were Democratic Senators Chris Van Hollen, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders and Jeff Merkley.

The senators requested a formal response from the State Department by August 17 outlining the administration's plan to prevent further violence in El Obeid.

Separately, the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee is scheduled to hold a classified hearing titled "Update on the War in Sudan" at 3:00 p.m. Washington time on August 5.

The session will be closed to the public and the media and will be conducted at the TS/SCI classification level, indicating it will cover top-secret intelligence and other highly sensitive government information.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov