RSF Officer Claims UAE Is ‘Main Backer’ in Sudan War

An RSF intelligence officer told Sky News the UAE is the militia’s “main backer,” alleging weapons arrive via Chad into Darfur. 

A clandestine interview published by Sky News features an RSF intelligence officer—identified only as “Ahmed”—who claims the United Arab Emirates is now the Rapid Support Forces’ principal patron in Sudan’s war, with flights allegedly ferrying weapons into South Darfur through routes in eastern Chad. The UAE firmly denies the accusation, saying it backs a ceasefire and civilian transition and “categorically” rejects that it has supported either side since the war began in April 2023.

In the interview, the officer says that “in the beginning, it was the Russians—Wagner and the state. Now, they tell me it is the UAE supporting the RSF,” adding that “many of the planes landing at Nyala [South Darfur] are said to bring weapons from the UAE,” sometimes routed “through the Amdjarras airport in Chad.” He also frames the link as a “financial relationship,” noting RSF’s control of gold areas and the UAE’s position as a gold-trading hub.

Commanders of anti-RSF Joint Task Forces describe multiple corridors, including from Chad’s Abeche through the Adre crossing into West Darfur and via Amdjarras toward RSF’s supply hub at Zurug. Video shared with Sky News reportedly shows cross-border movements at night, though cargo markings are not identifiable.

Flights, tracking and UN correspondence

Sky News cites independent documentation of “at least 86” flights from the UAE to Amdjarras by December 2024. Sudanese authorities, in a 4 September letter to the UN Security Council, alleged no fewer than 248 UAE-chartered flights between November 2024 and February 2025 to smuggle mercenaries, weapons and equipment into Sudanese territory. Open-source flight trackers have also flagged cargo movements from Abu Dhabi to Chad in September 2025.

The report references prior UN expert findings published by the Guardian, which described patterns of Ilyushin cargo flights and potential overland routes, while also noting the panel did not confirm what those planes carried and the relevant findings did not appear in the final 39-page report. 

These operations violate a UN arms embargo on Darfur imposed in 2004. Here’s a breakdown based on reported data:

Aspect	Details
Number of Flights	Over 400 flights to Chad airstrips (e.g., Amdjarass, N’Djamena) since 2023; the UAE claims 159 relief flights with 10,000+ metric tons of aid; at least 86 UAE-based flights to Amdjarass tracked via flight data and satellite imagery.
Aircraft and Operators	Cargo planes like Ilyushin Il-76s operated by front companies (e.g., Reem Air, Global Aviation Logistics, and New Way Airlines); some previously linked to UAE arms shipments to Libya.
Cargo Contents	Weapons (e.g., drones, anti-tank missiles, 120 mm mortar shells, thermobaric bombs), ammunition, armored vehicles, spare parts disguised as humanitarian aid (food, medical supplies). Evidence includes seized crates, ammo boxes marked for UAE forces, and Dubai-branded trucks.
Routes and Logistics	UAE to Chad (Amdjarass airstrip upgraded for operations); then convoys to Sudan borders (e.g., Bir Mirgui base in North Darfur); Patterns include mid-flight radar disappearances and unrecorded take-offs to evade detection.
Timeline	Ongoing since April 2023; peaks noted in 2024-2025. Flights to Nyala Airport in South Darfur for supplies and evacuations as of late 2024.

Humanitarian stakes in Darfur

The interview and on-the-ground accounts are set against RSF’s siege of Al-Fashir, the last state-held capital in North Darfur, where nearly a million civilians are trapped amid drone strikes, shelling and a blockade. Local commanders say RSF’s recent firepower reflects inflows of sophisticated weapons; RSF is accused of atrocities including genocide in Darfur, mass looting and sexual violence—allegations the group has denied in various forums.

The dueling narratives—insider claims and flight-tracking hints versus categorical government denials—leave verification to multilateral investigators, who face the same obstacles they flagged earlier: opaque cargoes, deniable logistics and a conflict zone where documentation is dangerous and fragmentary. With Al-Fashir under pressure and displacement surpassing 13 million, any clarity on external support could shape sanctions debates, embargo enforcement and fragile ceasefire diplomacy.

Category	Statistic
People in Need	30.4 million across Sudan, with Darfur heavily affected, according to the IRC’s July 2025 report.
Displacement	Over 12 million have been forcibly displaced nationwide since 2023; 130,000 refugees have gone to Chad from Darfur; and over 1 million are internally displaced in Darfur, according to UN data.
Food Insecurity	24.6 million facing acute hunger; famine declared in Zamzam IDP camp in North Darfur; over 635,000 in famine conditions, according to UN and OHCHR data.
Civilian Casualties	At least 3,384 deaths in Sudan from Jan-Jun 2025, mostly in Darfur, e.g., 527 from the RSF offensive in North Darfur in April.
Health and Disease	Cholera deaths exceeding 3,000 in Darfur; 19 million without safe water/sanitation; over 30 humanitarian workers killed in 2025.
Funding Shortfalls	2025 humanitarian response plan ($4.2 billion) only 13% funded, according to US Congress report.

UAE’s categorical denial

Responding to Sky News, the UAE foreign ministry said it has “consistently supported regional and international efforts to achieve an immediate ceasefire, protect civilians, and ensure accountability for violations committed by all warring parties,” condemned atrocities by both sides, and “categorically reject[ed] any claims of providing any form of support to either warring party.” It added that the latest UN Panel of Experts report shows “no substantiated evidence that the UAE has provided any support to RSF.”

The dueling narratives—insider claims and flight-tracking hints versus categorical government denials—leave verification to multilateral investigators, who face the same obstacles they flagged earlier: opaque cargoes, deniable logistics and a conflict zone where documentation is dangerous and fragmentary. With Al-Fashir under pressure and displacement surpassing 13 million, any clarity on external support could shape sanctions debates, embargo enforcement and fragile ceasefire diplomacy.