Behind the news: Building what it destroyed… the UAE
By: Muhammad Wada’a
The UAE is facing repercussions for violating Security Council Resolution No. 1591, which could lead to international sanctions. The plane belonging to Hemedti, commander of the disbanded Rapid Support Militia forces, is registered in the UAE and owned by Royal Jet, a company involved in transporting weapons to Umm Djers. This same company facilitated the delivery of weapons to the dissolved rebel forces at Umm Jaras Airport via Entebbe, using a Boeing 737-700 with the registration number A-6-R-G-F. As a result, thousands of Sudanese individuals are preparing to file lawsuits before international courts, accusing the UAE of criminal involvement and violation of international resolutions. According to Western reports, Hemedti received an estimated six billion dollars worth of weapons and ammunition. This includes long-range artillery, launchers, and drones – weapons that caused significant damage to infrastructure, resulting in thousands of deaths and injuries, as well as displacement of hundreds of thousands of people.
The UAE has violated the United Nations ban on supplying weapons to Darfur, including the Janjaweed, despite the unjustified hostile behavior towards the Sudanese people. The Security Council imposed a ban on the supply of weapons to all non-governmental entities and individuals operating in Darfur, and this sanctions regime was strengthened over time. Resolution 1591 expanded the scope of the arms embargo to include all parties involved in the N’Djamena Ceasefire Agreement and other warring parties. The enforcement of the arms embargo was further reinforced with the adoption of Resolution 1945 on October 14, 2010, and these sanctions measures have been reaffirmed and renewed until September 12, 2024. The Council will review these measures no later than February 12, 2024, considering the progress made by the Government of Sudan as mentioned in section four of the Secretary-General’s report dated July 31, 2021 (S/2021/696). According to estimates, the Janjaweed, officially referred to as per Security Council Resolution 1591, has caused the death of approximately 15,000 civilians and left thousands wounded. They have also forcibly displaced citizens from their homes, looted their cars, furniture, and savings, and occupied their houses.
The citizens have suffered extensive losses, estimated to be around 150 thousand private cars, as well as thousands of trucks and buses. Additionally, all the cash in the banks has been seized on April 15, affecting factory products, raw materials, and goods in markets and warehouses. Civil organizations that have initiated the loss assessment report that the business and industrial sectors alone have incurred losses exceeding two hundred billion dollars, as per the Charter of the United Nations. The Security Council of the United Nations is the sole authority to authorize international sanctions, in accordance with Article 41, which all member states of the United Nations must adhere to under (Article 2.2.) The international community regards sanctions as the most effective nonviolent method for preventing threats to international peace and security. It is important to note that sanctions do not involve the use of military force. However, if diplomatic efforts fail to resolve a conflict, the Security Council, relying on reports from international organizations, can authorize the use of force separately under Article 42.
The dissolved Rapid Support Forces, with the backing of the Emirates, have been implicated in crimes such as murder, theft, and looting. According to the United Nations Charter, the International Court of Justice, and the criminal laws of any country, the Emirates is considered a genuine accomplice in these crimes and will face legal consequences. The UAE’s support for the dissolved militia violates Security Council resolutions. This violation exposes the UAE to international sanctions, and numerous Sudanese individuals are preparing to file lawsuits in European and American courts accusing the UAE of breaching international resolutions, participating in the killing of Sudanese people, and supplying weapons and ammunition to the perpetrators. The UAE is currently facing significant challenges in avoiding sanctions and the high costs of compensation. As a result, it is desperate to support the dissolved militia in hopes of achieving victory over the Sudanese army. However, these dreams have been shattered due to the resilient armed resistance of the Sudanese people. Expanding the network of bribed states will not lead to diplomatic success, and the emergence of Hemedti (amended) will not bring about any significant change. This applies as of January 6, 2024.